Departing Shadows — Paul Charles

DI Christy Kennedy returns in Departing Shadows, a deceit-laden tale of intrigue, which takes him from London to Brighton and back, and into the arms of the West End's most celebrated up-and-coming actress, Nealey Dean. But all's not well in vibrant Camden Town, as Kennedy investigates a death just outside a diplomatic compound, and finds his investigation immediately stymied by the invocation of diplomatic privilege. The deceased, an actress of a different sort, hostess and social media influencer Gabriella Byrne, left behind a world of mystery, where even those who knew her best did not know her well. As Kennedy interviews witnesses and checks alibis, his investigation brings him from London's hallowed palaces of power to seamy gentlemen's clubs, each with smoke and mirrors of their own. Along the way, he discovers just how far some people will go to protect their darkest secrets, in this, the 11th DI Christy Kennedy mystery. "Well-crafted, sensitive, literate, sharply observed...deeply enjoyable."--Kirkus Reviews.