Fifth in the Alan Clarke Crime series 

On Christmas Eve a body is found in the snow outside the gates of Canterbury Cathedral. At first, it appears to be a tragic accident , but when forensic evidence reveals a blow to the back of the head , the truth emerges. Jon West has been murdered - and DCI Alan Clarke has a crime to solve during the festive period.

 The son of prominent MP Charles West , Jon was notorious for his reckless partying and serial womanising - and often save from scandal by his responsible twin brother , Isaac. Nevertheless Jon's charm left a trail of damaged relationships and bitter enemies . Ha had affairs with sisters Eve and Lucy , the latter now marries to Isaac , placing both women - and Isaac himself - under suspicion . Eve's volatile boyfriend Mark , who openly threatened Jon shortly before his death , quickly joins the growing list of suspects.

 As Alan and his team dig deeper, they uncover more unsettling connections. A troubled Taxi Driver , Dan Williams, seems unnervingly invested in the case ; and when Alan discovers that Dan's daughter died five years earlier , with her body found close to where Jon was killed , the investigation takes a darker turn. And when Jon's closest friend Jack also has a motive , having been twice betrayed by Jon stealing his girlfriends.

 Alan must unravel the truth from the lies beneath the snow to find out who was out to commit murder on that cold December night.