M. C. Newberry

Time and change in police work take no prisoners and as 1992 draws to a close, veteran Met. Pol. Sergeant Moe is feeling increasingly like a hostage to both when he learns of the death of his old dad (and only family), the racing-mad Maurice Moe, sending him back from the East End of London to a blue remembered youth and distant Baytown to arrange the funeral and consider his future.

But solace in the shapely form of traffic warden Marie Mee and support in the form-filling shape of local CID Sgt. Swift, plus willing back-up from Stan Downes, his dad's punting pal, and Moe's ex-docker chum 'Screwy' Naylor, come to his aid in time of need as he confronts Baytown low-life, not least the vengeful son of the teenage Moe's vicious old foe 'Farter' Carter - Baytown's murdered cemetery keeper.

Retirement might beckon but Moe is never backward in coming forward!