A corrupt wealthy industrialist is found dead. When his family shed crocodile tears, DCI Blizzard turns the screw.The closure of the Smarts factory in a northern industrial city put many people out of work. Nothing was ever proven, butsuspicions of serious financial corruptionwere rife. So when the agedowner is found deadin his home, DCI John Blizzard seizes the opportunity to investigate further.Whennatural causes are ruled outand a murder inquiry is opened, Dennis Smart’s family are the obvious suspects. Yet each has an alibi, and whenthe net is widened, any number of the former factory employees might have sufficient motive.The subsequent investigation centres on asmall group of left-wing dropoutswho are locals in a backstreet pub. Will Detective Chief Inspector Blizzard ferret them out? And will he collar them for the crime? Or is he being led up the garden path whilst thereal killer gets off scot free?