When Teifi Valley Coroner Harry Probert-Lloyd is called to investigate the sudden death of a healthy young woman, the medical examiner confirms death by natural causes but the behavior of the girl’s father raises suspicion. While Harry digs into the case his assistant, John Davies, remains at Harry’s Glanteifi estate where, in addition to serving as assistant coroner, he is training to take over as steward. All is not well on the home front, where Harry’s hands-off approach has led to the current steward making some poor decisions. John sees disaster looming but is unable to turn it around on his own. Things eventually come to a head at about the same time as a second death related to the murder investigation. Harry and John then have to solve the crime, intervene in estate management, and heal a rift in their relationship all at the same time.

By this, the fourth book in the series, the formula is set. Harry runs off to solve a crime in a way that challenges the boundaries of the coroner position. John struggles with class differences between himself and Harry, and with isolation as his role takes him outside his traditional circle. Harry behaves poorly and needs to be set right. It’s fine, if a bit predictable. The history of the Welsh Teifi Valley and the imminent impact of the railroads and industrial mechanization added interest to the story, but I’m kind of glad this is the last book in the series, at least for now. ( )