Illegal Tender: Dominic Devine (David McDonald Devine)

A junior clerk at a Scottish town Council, who has indiscreetly let it be known she has discovered an irregularity, is murdered before she can reveal what she knows to the police. Inspector Hemmings discovers that there are a large number of possible irregularities. The Town Clerk is having an affair with the only woman Senior Deputy while trying to prevent the appointment over his head of his greatest rival - an appointment sponsored by the dead girl's Councillor father. His lover finds her promotion blocked by the same Councillor's antiquated prejudices. And a local firm, whose tenders are always submitted, at the last minute has been having a remarkable run of luck in undercutting its rivals. Then a second murder takes place at the staff dance...and there's any number of suspects with motives.