Once a year, at the very least, one likes to sit down and imbibe a long slow shot of Ross Thomas, and feel cultured and clever and civilised for a while. This tale of a campaign organiser brought back from bucolic farm life to look into the disappearance of a union boss leads to a murderous political conspiracy to scupper the upcoming US elections. But who is behind it and is there anyone he can trust? The skullduggery of union politics from high-level power plays to low-level violence and intimidation all feature in this delightfully nasty and poisonous but smooth and powerful little thriller. Drink it slow, there's a bite on every sip.