The third story of the Cazalet family opens in the spring of 1942 and follows through to VE day, 8 May 1945. Polly and Clary have left Home Place for London; Louise has wed; Polly and Archie Lestrange each fall in love. Sombre days are echoed in the struggles of the characters' lives.

In 1937, the coming war is only a distant cloud on Britain's horizon. As the Cazalet households prepare for their summer pilgrimage to the family estate in Sussex, readers meet Edward, in love with but by no means faithful to his wife Villy; Hugh, wounded in the Great War; Rupert, who worships his lovely child-bride Zoe; and Rachel, the spinster sister.

Beatrice Lacey, as strong-minded as she is beautiful, refuses to conform to the social customs of her time. Destined to lose her family name and beloved Wideacre estate once she is wed, Beatrice will use any means necessary to protect her ancestral heritage. Seduction, betrayal, even murder-Beatrice's passion is without apology or conscience. "She is a Lacey of Wideacre," her father warns, "and whatever she does, however she behaves, will always be...

Wexford investigates when a five-year-old boy and a twelve-year-old girl disappear from the village of Kingsmarkham and then one is found dead.

American millionaire with a penchant for paperweights visits his distant cousin, in need of financial support to maintain his castle, and hits upon a delightful idea.

A lump of concrete dropped deliberately from a little stone bridge over a relatively unfrequented road kills the wrong person. The driver behind is spared. But only for a while ... One particular member of the local press is gunning for the Chief Inspector, distinctly unimpressed with what he regards as old-fashioned police methods. But Wexford, with his old friend and partner, Mike Burden, along with two new recruits to the Kingsmarkham team, pursue...

Anita Margolis had vanished. There was no body, no crime, and nothing more concrete than an anonymous letter. According to headquarters, it wasn't to be considered a murder inquiry at all. But Inspector Burden saw a pattern in the case. Not only had Anita been wealthy and flighty, she had been thoroughly immoral. She also kept her money in handbags, not in the bank. Detective Burden could see exactly what had happened.

Chief Inspector Wexford, injured in a car bombing, must rely on Detective Mike Burden to catch a killer in what appears to be a murder without motive   Chief Inspector Wexford couldn't know that the bundle of rags in the parking garage concealed a body-he'd just been doing a bit of light shopping, after all, not looking for dead housewives. Wexford won't be on the case for long; a car bomb sends him to the hospital, and Inspector Mike Burden must...

Charlie Hatton wanted fast money and conspicuous success, and he was prepared to cut any corners to get them. But before he could realize a single ambition, he was found dead at the edge of a river.