It's the first day of the tennis tournament at Wimbledon. And a dead body is lying on court nineteen.

Newly-promoted detective inspector Angela Costello recognizes the dead man as the Croatian champion-turned-coach, Petar Belic. Double grand-slam winner, Petar was one of the best-known and best loved players of the modern era.

Petar had a complicated life: an ex-wife who wanted him back; a girlfriend who didn't want to let him go; a business partner with secrets.

Then there was leading Brit Stewart Bickerstaff, not universally popular with his fellow players, whom Petar had been coaching. Little by little DI Costello, despite awkward and prickly colleagues, discerns a trail through the mass of information. Unfortunately she has no way of proving her suspicions. But a prime suspect has overlooked a vital detail ...