When a patrolling police car finds a man slumped over the wheel of a BMW in the middle of the night, it appears to be just another drunken driver come to grief. But the driver is a diplomat, and what he tells the police has serious consequences for international relations.

What begins as a routine traffic offence soon involves the Foreign Office, MI5 and MI6, the German Police, the FBI, the New York Police Department and the Pakistani Secret Service. Aware that the Prime Minister is shortly to visit Pakistan, Commander Frank Hussey, head of Special Branch operations, assigns Detective Chief Superintendent John Gaffney to undertake an urgent enquiry.

Gaffney and Detective Chief Inspector Harry Tipper go to Islamabad, and are immediately embroiled in an enquiry into the suspicious death of a member of the British Embassy’s staff. Is it connected with their enquiry, or is it just an incredible coincidence? As the search for a solution goes on, other startling information emerges until finally the whole network of intrigue is laid bare.

A Damned Serious Business is an exciting addition to the Gaffney casebook, and in it Graham Ison reveals the intricate interlocking of the security agencies both at home and abroad, describing with inside knowledge, based on his own experience, the frustrations and petty jealousies of the various departments in a way that will be familiar to readers of his previous books.

Graham Ison was born and brought up in Surrey where he still lives. The son of an artist, and grandson of a composer, he served in the army for five years before joining the police. After spending some time with the CID at Scotland Yard he transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Group and between 1967 and 1971 was Personal Protection Officer to Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. In 1981 he moved back to Scotland Yard as Detective Chief Superintendent. He retired at this rank in 1986.