In Place of Fear

<p>''Authentic social history at the birth of the NHS, an intriguing murder, a strong and convincing central character, and McPherson''s wonderful story-telling skills make this a very classy mystery'' <b>ANN CLEEVES</b><br><br><b><i>Helen leaned close enough to fog the mirror with her breath and whispered, ''You, my girl, are a qualified medical almoner and at eight o''clock tomorrow morning you will be on the front line of the National Health Service of Scotland.'' Her eyes looked huge and scared. ''So take a shake to yourself!''''</i></b><br><b><br> Edinburgh, 1948.</b> Helen Crowther leaves a crowded tenement home for her very own office in a doctor''s surgery. <i>Upstart</i>, <i>ungrateful</i>, <i>out of your depth</i> - the words of disapproval come at her from everywhere but she''s determined to take her chance and play her part.<br><br> She''s barely begun when she stumbles over a murder and learns that, in this most respectable of cities, no one will fight for justice at the r