Ex-policeman, and now security consultant, Billy Olliphant is offered a job with Amalgam, a large upmarket hotel chain, and sets off to meet with the Directors at the Riverside. On his way, he learns that there is an unsolved "locked room" murder from precisely 1 year ago that must involve the directors who were staying in the as yet unopened hotel.
Determined to investigate, Billy is given a little over 24 hours before the Directors disperse, and recruits friends to help. In the process he is threatened, beaten up and gassed.
Once the story got moving it was enjoyable - despite the editorial errors that littered the prose - however the opening pages are extremely verbose, and verging on the boring. I would recommend perseverence though - it is worth it in the end.