When a brilliant emigré scientist is killed by a hit-and-run driver and
a young woman's body is washed up in the Thames, Merlin and his team
must investigate. The woman is an employee of the American embassy,
whose ambassador at this time is Joseph Kennedy.
DCI Merlin's investigation of diplomats at the embassy ruffles feathers
at the foreign office - the American ambassador is a well-known
supporter of appeasement, and many powerful and influential Britons
favour the pursuit of a negotiated peace settlement with Hitler.
The death of another embassy employee leads Merlin into some of the
seedier quarters of wartime London, where a corrupt nightclub owner,
various high-flying diplomats, and the ambassador himself appear to be
linked to the events surrounding the deaths.
Merlin has to pursue his detective work under the interfering
supervision of an assistant metropolitan commissioner who is fearful
about the impact of Merlin's investigations on Anglo-American relations
at a time when America represents to many Britain's only hope of
salvation.
Capturing the atmosphere of Britain in 1940 during the 'phoney war'
when, although war rages on the continent, life continues relatively
peacefully in Britain, Princes Gate is an enthralling detective novel.
