Death's Jest-Book (Dalziel and Pascoe, Bk. 20)

Three times, Yorkshire policeman Peter Pascoe has wrongly accused ex-con, aspiring academic, and inveterate joker Franny Roote of a crime, only to have Roote walk free. Now Roote is sending strange and threatening letters, and Pascoe is certain there is far worse to come. This time he's determined to get his man.

Meanwhile, Pascoe's colleague Edgar Wield rides to the rescue of a boy in danger, and in return the boy tips him off about the heist of a priceless treasure, soon making Wield torn between protecting the lad and doing his duty.

Over all this activity broods Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel. As trouble builds, Dalziel discovers that omniscience can be a double-edged sword.