Simon Turing

James Faraday is about to turn 80 and his daughter has organized a gathering of friends and family at Woodford Grange to celebrate the big day. There will be a marquee in the garden, plenty of food and drink, and a huge stack of birthday presents. One particular gift, however, is proving difficult to track down. For Simon Turing, who works in the local bookshop, it is just another order; an out-of-print book of wartime statistics. As soon as the book arrives, however, things start to go awry. Is it just a run of bad luck or are more sinister forces at work?

It is early November, and the Wynmouth Fire Festival is in full flow. A dozen or more giant statues are about to be put to the torch. The locals jokingly refer to it as "the Bonfire Night Massacre". Fireworks and bonfires are the order of the day, and Simon Turing is looking forward to seeing the display.

Whatever you do, don't eat the paella! Simon Turing is on holiday in southern Spain and things are not going at all well. The hire car breaks down on the way from the airport and, while phoning for help, Simon hears a cry of distress from a nearby orange grove. He arrives to find a man lying dead in a ditch. By the time the authorities arrive, however, the body has disappeared. The police think Simon must have disturbed a tramp who scarpered when he went to call for an ambulance.