When Michael Holmes goes missing from a squad of Irish tattie-howkers working as sweated labour, Pike is commissioned to find him, a dangerous business when working for Philomena Hawley.

Pike becomes personally involved in the murder of a street pie-man when Sweet Sam is the only witness. But Sam has lost her memory and Pike has to use his own methods to bring the murderer to book.

Pike has his hands full sorting out the hawks from the doves as he investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl.

When is a suicide not a suicide? And how can a corpse cash a betting slip? Pike arranges a meeting with the 'body' to find the answers.

Pike becomes involved in drugs and murder when a body is found in a hearse... but in the front seat!

Pike has to pick his way through a minefield of intrigue to reach a prodigal son, a university student implicated in the murder of a girl.