Deficit of Diligence 

Mike Stanhope Mysteries 2

Journalist and would-be novelist Mike Stanhope has inherited a house in northern England from someone he’s never heard of. Why? When his job takes him to the area, he tries to find out how his mysterious benefactor knew him - and thinks he’s found a clue in the chance sighting of a young woman in an ancient film.

But the finances of the company he’s been sent to visit don’t stack up, and the owner’s daughter is a little too friendly. People at the company are wary of him, and he can’t decide who to trust. An ill-judged article puts his work on the line, and a misunderstanding throws his relationship with his girlfriend into doubt. Suddenly his world is crumbling around him.

Mike is convinced he can get his life back on track by finding out the truth about the troubled company, but it’s a road fraught with danger. As the mystery deepens and the pace gathers, he finds himself embroiled in a kidnapping and at odds with the police, while at the same time confronting people who will apparently stop at nothing to prevent him from interfering.

Due diligence: commercial or personal?

Technically, “due diligence” is the term used to describe the process of scrutiny applied to corporate transactions to make sure they’re based on sound assumptions. Informally, the phrase also refers to the kind of precautions that wise people take throughout their everyday lives. In Deficit of Diligence, they’re both conspicuously lacking. 

The northern connection

The action in Deficit of Diligence ranges from Britain’s West Country to various towns and cities in northern England – notably Newcastle upon Tyne, where author Peter Rowlands was born.

From the reviews

“Another compelling read from the storyteller Peter Rowlands, and although this is the second book in the series it is equally readable as a stand-alone novel ...”

“Peter Rowlands is doing a great job of developing a likable character in writer, Mike Stanhope ...”

“This isn’t your typical mystery book where you get all of the answers at the end. There are a number of mysteries going on at the same time ... It works really well and makes you keep reading ...”

“Exciting from beginning to end ...”
 

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Reading group discussion topics here.