As it was a tumultuous time in British history, full of conflict, strikes and, of course, the rise to power of Margaret Thatcher, the context in which our heroes operate is fascinating to say the least. At the same time, McDermid never misses an opportunity to intersperse his writing with elements of the pop culture of the time, from music and television series to films and books. Here we are dealing with a highly authentic narrative. The reader will identify with the interesting character Eli Burns, as well as her colleague, who also has a lot to overcome in order to “appear” – both in his work and in his conservative family. Although the novel refers to the political and social history of Scotland, it is striking how closely it refers to the Greek reader. Many elements are similar to our counterparts of that time.

Widely written and award-winning, Val McDermid is not resting on her laurels or commercialism, but, herself a militant lesbian, is a socially conscious writer and a determined feminist. Finally, a very good translation by the experienced Efi Tsironis should be noted.