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(3.83) | None | Commander John Coffin investigates the deaths of two policemen, and the apparent suicide of a police officer's wife. A darkly authentic crime novel from one of the most highly praised English mystery writers, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. The Coffin Tree grew in a garden in London. It had been struck by lightning, which would have killed most trees - but not this one. Near it, a shrouded body has been burnt. Had the victim voluntarily climbed on to the fire, as one eyewitness reports? That same summer, two of Coffin's young detectives died - deaths that were said to be accidental. In Coffin's view, however, two accidents are two too many. Commander John Coffin is not a fanciful man, but somehow the half-dead tree, its top killed by lightning, standing in a sad patch of rough earth, seems to him to epitomise his problems. Why did the two policemen die? How did one dead police officer's wife come to die a grisly death herself at the foot of the coffin tree? Coffin can't believe that it was suicide, but in his efforts to solve the crimes, he is forced to question his own judgement, and to confront the mysteries of another human heart.… (more) |
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▾References References to this work on external resources. Wikipedia in EnglishNone ▾Book descriptions Commander John Coffin investigates the deaths of two policemen, and the apparent suicide of a police officer's wife. A darkly authentic crime novel from one of the most highly praised English mystery writers, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. The Coffin Tree grew in a garden in London. It had been struck by lightning, which would have killed most trees - but not this one. Near it, a shrouded body has been burnt. Had the victim voluntarily climbed on to the fire, as one eyewitness reports? That same summer, two of Coffin's young detectives died - deaths that were said to be accidental. In Coffin's view, however, two accidents are two too many. Commander John Coffin is not a fanciful man, but somehow the half-dead tree, its top killed by lightning, standing in a sad patch of rough earth, seems to him to epitomise his problems. Why did the two policemen die? How did one dead police officer's wife come to die a grisly death herself at the foot of the coffin tree? Coffin can't believe that it was suicide, but in his efforts to solve the crimes, he is forced to question his own judgement, and to confront the mysteries of another human heart. ▾Library descriptions No library descriptions found. ▾LibraryThing members' description
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That summer when the old Docklands of London sweltered in the great heat... was the summer when John Coffin walked his Second City of London and felt that life was unraveling about him... Something had to be done and it was for him to do it. Two of Coffin's young detectives had died - deaths that were said to be accidental. In Coffin's view, however, two accidents are two too many. Commander John Coffin is not a fanciful man, but somehow the half-dead tree, its top killed by lightning, standing in a sad patch of rough earth, seems to him to epitomize his problems. Why did the two policemen die? How did one dead police officer's wife come to die a grisly death herself at the foot of the coffin tree? Coffin can't believe that it was suicide. Beyond these concerns, Coffin is uneasy about his relationship with the mercurial actress, Stella Pinero, whom he married after a long on-and-off romance. It is when Stella, whose art has taught her to look deep into the human psyche, sets things right between them that Coffin is able to seek the answers he knows are there. | |
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Coffin has two officers dead from accidents that happened while investigating a violent money laundering operation. Coffin suspects the deaths are murders and becomes more convinced when the wife of one of the dead officers turns up dead.
Coffin brings in Phoeby Astley to go undercover to suss out more information. He has suspicions of inside collusion but needs proof. Coffin has worked with tPhoeby in the past, but there is also some other history between them. Will there be a problem with that? How will Coffin’s wife handle it?
Coffin doesn’t take things at face value. He feels there is usually more than what is presented and he obsesses over working it out.
I’ve read a few of the series and think I will put a little more effort to getting and reading more. I enjoyed what I read. ( )