Underneath the Arches — Graham Ison

‘Altogether; a police procedural to put beside McBain. In other words, top of the class' Julian Symons, The Independent

Led by Detective Chief Superintendent Tommy Fox, the Flying Squad is watching over a repository of stolen property underneath some railway arches in Lambeth. Arriving to lodge the proceeds of yet another robbery, a pair of thieves discover the body of a young woman. And so a simple robbery case becomes a murder investigation.

Aproaching the case in his usual unorthodox way, Fox has to contend not only with the familiar catalogue of villainy but also with two complaints that have been against him â€" these being investigated by the unbending and humourless Commander Willow of the Uniform branch. Pawnbrokers, photographers, an oil executive, big-businessmen and charity workers all come under Fox's suspicion. Aided by the loyal yet often perplexed officers under his charge, Fox tries to discover the link between stolen goods and a seemingly random murder. And in the course of his enquiries, he also manages to get rather close to a young female member of the nobility. But then, Fox always did have a discerning eye…

With obstacles continuously strewn in his path, will Fox's unconventional way of working be enough to resolve the mystery of the body underneath the arches?

In this cynical and witty, fast-moving mystery, Graham Ison sets the bar high for a perfectly executed police investigation.

‘Goes through the motions convincingly, treating Cabinet Ministers and crooks with equal cynicism' Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘Well-calibrated crime, with textbook plotting and execution. Comeuppance equally well orchestrated. Unmistakably authentic, with Ison's background knowledge adding sting and substance to proceedings.' Literary Review

Graham Ison was born and brought up in Surrey. The son of an artist, and the grandson of a composer, he served in the army for five years before joining the police. He spent most of his service with the CID at Scotland Yard and between 1967 and 1971 was Personal Protection Officer to Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. After a spell of duty with the Diplomatic Protection Group, he returned to Scotland Yard in 1981 as a detective chief superintendent. He retired at this rank in 1986 and now lives in Hampshire.