A bookseller turns P. I. in this intriguing five-part BBC radio thriller.

Grahame Mayer specialises in selling books, not solving mysteries. So when he’s asked to play private investigator and track down a soldier from the Spanish Civil War, he wonders if it’s some sort of test - and if so, what will happen if he fails....

Armed with fresh information, he is sent to Glasgow on the trail of Jock Cameron, and a meeting with a former nurse who knew him back in Spain furnishes Grahame with further clues. But despite these new leads, the elusive Jock remains tantalisingly out of reach.

Will a series of postcards, some holy pictures and an encounter with a pop star enable the reluctant sleuth to hunt Cameron down - or will it take a man’s death to release Mayer from his quest?

Created by Edward Boyd, who wrote for a number of BBC TV shows including Z-Cars, this enthralling crime drama stars Ray Brooks, with a supporting cast including Garard Green, John Hannah and Alexandra Mathie.

Written by Edward Boyd

Produced at BBC Scotland by Patrick Rayner

Cast

Grahame Mayer……………………Ray Brooks

Coleman……………………John Westbrook

Teresa……………………Alexandra Mathie

Forrest……………………Garard Green

Hemingway……………………William Hope

Cameron……………………John Hannah/Joseph Greig

Rainsford……………………Jonathan Tafler

Inspector McNeill……………………Carey Wilson

Norah McGill……………………Sybil Wintrope

Henderson……………………Joseph Brady

Arnold……………………Ian Thompson

Receptionist……………………Jennifer Piercey

Man on plane/Millhouse……………………William Hope

Miss McLauchlan……………………Yvonne Gilan

Pat……………………Richard Jamieson

Paula……………………Caroline Guthrie

Waiter/Taxi driver……………………Gordon Reid

Nuke……………………John McGlynn

Apollyon……………………Billy McColl

Dr Lovat……………………Roy Hanlon

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 October-20 November 1987