City of Vultures — Ron Ellis

It is 2003. Liverpool has just been named as European City of Culture for 2008 and property sharks are descending in droves in the hope of making a killing. . .

Johnny Ace is back from Spain and running Ace Investigations with his new assistant, the glamorous Cameron when the decapitated body of a tramp is found in a shop doorway, with one of Johnny's business cards in his pocket. The head lies in a nearby gutter. The tramp turns out to be a wealthy land speculator and his girlfriend quickly hires Johnny's services, frightened she will be the next in a string of victims.

Ace Investigations is doing big business with so many people clambering for Johnny's protection, but Johnny has no time to sit and count his profits. Following leads from Liverpool to Scotland whilst dealing with his complicated love life, Johnny eventually comes to realize that all the problems stem from the unprecedented rise in property prices. There are ruthless people out there, who are prepared to pick over the carrion of other people's lives for the vast amounts of money at stake.