Damon Mee was last seen in a blurred security video on the dance floor of a Kirkaldy nightclub. It was a routine missing persons case and it wasnt even on his patch but inspector John rebus said hed look into it as a favour to the boys father a friend from his school days. In the deft hands of Ian Rankin the ripples of the investigation widen rapidly. They lead to the clubs greasy owner to a slightly bent casion croupier to a drop dead blonde whose name nobody seems to know to a Hibs striker with a talent for goals and a weakness for gambling and finally to the shadowed men who call the shots in Edinburghs underworld. When its over Rebus has repaid a debt and his boss has received an unexpected birthday present.