So Young to Burn — John Creasey

A series of acid-throwing attacks on young lovers has everyone mystified. Is it the work of young hooligans, or are there more sinister forces at play? Roger ‘Handsome' West of Scotland Yard must solve the case, and quickly. However, there are many obstacles in his way as he tries to uncover a thread and he finds he has to deal with bigoted parents, a psychiatric hospital full of perverts, a somewhat suspicious social club, and many others, not to mention robbery and murder along the way.