Book 1 in the Ash Carter Near-East series.
The year is 1948.
"'Help Me!' Those were the words on the back of a woman’s photograph. And yet she vanished six months ago. Military investigator Ash Carter has arrived in Cyprus. A gang has been operating for two years, leaving a mark known to police as the kiss of death. Is this something to do with them? And why ask him for help? After a murder, Carter begins to realize this is personal."