The Leaning Man

The city of Wellington is unforgiving and unrepentant. Forget the politicians: they're poor amateurs in deception and crime.

It's Saturday night down on the wharf. Celebrations are in full swing for the Westons' fortieth wedding anniversary. Their daughter Stella has returned from London to attend. Once shoulder-tapped as detective material, a few bad decisions and a questionable ethical dilemma saw her leave the police force under a cloud. She's now a private investigator in London, reduced to filming errant husbands for court cases.

Later that night her best friend Teri is found dead in a lane in the central city. Her phone is missing. It looks like suicide, but Stella won't believe it. And she's not above taking big risks to find out the truth about her friend and the shady world she appears to have been dragged into...