The late unlamented

Everyone wanted her dead - even the detective who had to find her murderers.

When Cissie Rayman was murdered only the niceties of civilized behaviour prevented her murder from becoming the cause of rejoicing and celebration. As it was, a bowed head amongst the citizens of Hollyoak more often meant "Thank God for this relief" than a pious prayer for the soul of the deceased.

For Cissie Rayman had been the worst type of scandal-monger - her gossip was positively wicked. In her lifetime she had done more damage with her tongue than many a gunman has done with his gun. And because of this nobody in Hollyoak wanted the killer caught, knowing full well that he, or maybe she, had been driven to the killing by the taunts of the victim herself.

Ted Daly, whose duty it was to investigate the crime, soon found that the residents of Hollyoak were intent on doing everything possible to hinder his inquiries. Their reason was fear - fear that he would uncover the skeletons that lay hiding in so many household cupboards.

This taut, suspense story of a hunt for an ordinary, decent individual driven to murder is one which might easily become a reality in any town of ordinary, decent people - in your town, for instance.