Product Description

With his wife, the acclaimed actress Stella Pinero, away on a movie shoot in Scotland, Chief Commander John Coffin is at a bit of a loose end with just the cat and dog for company. But one morning, as he checks through the mail for his wife, he gets a rather unpleasant surprise: horrific pictures of badly abused children sent anonymously to Stella. Rather than worry his wife, he vows to track down the culprit and calls in a trusted colleague, DCI Phoebe Astley, to assist him in his inquiries.

As they investigate Stella’s stalker, another serious problem faces the detectives of the Second City of London. Several young girls have been murdered in Spinnergate with distinct and brutal similarities between the cases. Is there a serial killer on the loose? What is the connection to Stella Pinero, or is it all coincidence? As the investigations get closer to each other in focus, Coffin starts to feel that there are very personal motives at play as his wife’s tormentor racks up the tension. When excavations near St Luke’s unearth a chilling secret buried in the grounds of Stella’s theater, John feels the net closing around those nearest to him and must act quickly or risk losing all that he holds dear.

A gripping exploration of hidden desires and terrors, Coffin Knows the Answer poses some disturbing questions about identity and relationships in the modern world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1256950 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
'Butler distils her own brand of disquiet: omnipresent and irresistible.' The Sunday Times; 'Hauntingly atmospheric... explores the dark geography of a fictional London with almost Dickensian intensity' The Times; 'Her inventiveness never seems to flag' Times Literary Supplement

John Coffin (Coffin's Ghost, 2001, etc.) has been knighted for his services as Chief Commander of Police in London's fictitious Second City, but whatever public attention he's drawn has only made his job harder. The case in point this time is two cases. One involves a pedophile stalker who, not content with amassing a disquietingly extensive collection of pornographic photographs of children, has taken to writing boasting letters, with photos enclosed, to the Second City force. The other, even more alarming, features a serial killer who leaves his victims, raped and murdered, strewn throughout the borough of Spinnergate with a distressing lack of forensic evidence. Both perps seem irresistibly drawn to the even higher public profile of Coffin's wife, actress Stella Pinero. The pedophile sends photos and letters directly to her; the killer threatens and kidnaps her. When she escapes, it's with a photo that may well indicate that the two perps are the same. As the taunting messages continue and the body count rises, Coffin-with help from Paul Masters, his lead administrator; Phoebe Astley, the Chief Inspector who's still carrying a torch for him; and a dozen other assistants, eventually including Stella herself-strains to find the pattern underlying the wave of violence. The answer, when it comes, will be plausible and powerful, though naggingly inconclusive. Mid-range Coffin, with a sobering series of crimes efficiently set forth but disappointingly wound up. Still, every procedural detail, from the workings of the Second City force to the personnel's inevitable personal problems, rings as true as ever. (Kirkus Reviews)

From the Back Cover
Praise for the John Coffin series

“Butler has been compared to the ‘Fearsome Foursome,’ the founding mothers of the genre: Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Dorothy L. Sayers. It is an apt assessment. She offers her readers atmospheric settings, vivid characters, and a command of the English language that most contemporary writers can only dream of.”
---Bookpage on Coffin’s Ghost

“Butler’s style has grown ever more cryptic.... This outing will be heartily welcomed by Coffin’s legion of admirers.”
---Kirkus Reviews on Coffin’s Ghost

“Butler has built her considerable reputation on superbly crafted psychological thrillers that examine the bleaker aspects of human nature.... A fine crime novel.”
---Booklist on Coffin’s Game

“As always, Butler can be counted upon for an imaginative plot, gritty realism, tantalizing clues, stylish writing...a fine series by a talented author.”
---Booklist on A Double Coffin

“A neat surprise in the tortuous puzzle’s resolution, and more than enough menacing suspense to grip the reader to the end.”
---Kirkus Reviews on A Dark Coffin

“By turns haunting, baffling, and breathlessly abrupt, another satisfying rich, entry in this offbeat, underrated series.”
---Kirkus Reviews on A Coffin for Charley

About the Author
Gwendoline Butler was born in Blackheath, London, and educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. A winner of the Crime Writers Association's Silver Dagger Award, she has written over fifty books. This is the thirtieth novel in the acclaimed series featuring John Coffin.

Customer Reviews

Sadly disappointing
Having read so many of Gwendoline Butler's 'John Coffin' series, I was eagerly anticipating a great read. Unfortunately, the book does not deliver. Gratuitous grisly imagery, and a great deal of self-absorped (and questionable) sentimentality on the part of Coffin - used to poor effect because the resulting text never makes you connect with the characters in this mystery. Not a recommended read for those who have not been introduced to Coffin's appealing detection in other works by Butler.

strong Second City tale
For his tremendous work as Chief Commander of Police in London's Second City, John Coffin can now use Sir in front of his name as he has been knighted. However, instead of an opportunity to rest on his laurels John's recent flirtation with fame haunts him. Apparently two dangerous thugs have challenged John in a game of cat and mouse that includes his wife actress Stella Pinero as bait.

A pediophile stalker has written letters of exploits that showcase porno photos of children sent to the Second City police force. The other evil is a serial killer raping and murdering his victims, but leaving behind no useful evidence. Stella becomes a target for both criminals as the pediophile sends her letters with photos and the killer threatens to kidnap her and actually does. Stella escapes with proof that the alleged two culprits is actually one person committing both types of crimes. To keep Stella safe and halt the increasing homicide count, John and his staff must stop the perpetrator immediately, regardless of cost.

The Second City tales are always some of the better police procedural novels and the newest one, COFFIN KNOWS THE ANSWER, will join that meritorious list. The story line consists of intriguing interwoven subplots that focus on two strings of crimes and the impact on the personal lives, especially Coffin, of the police officers involved in solving and stopping the violence. Though well written, the climax seems disappointing in comparison to the preceding tale. Still, much stronger than most sub-genre entries, fans know that Coffin will find the answers to their reading needs.

Harriet Klausner

Strange Dichotomy
This is a rather short police procedural type mystery novel. The crimes are multiple and horrid. The supporting characters seem pretty bland, minimally competent, & even a bit depressing. The main characters aren't much better IMHO. The ending is rather sudden. I had my suspicions (some few clues are provided) but somehow not very satisfying. This was my 1st Coffin Series book & 1st G. Butler one as well. I know another of her books made the Black Dagger series--must be better than this one.