The Reluctant Detective Goes South (Martin Hayden Mysteries, #2)

Just because Martin runs a detective agency, it does not mean he has any intention of investigating anything, except the lunchtime menu at his favourite Michelin-starred restaurant.
However, for the benefit of his mother he must occasionally appear to be working. Consequently, he agrees to help an old school friend who has found himself on the wrong side of the law and is now serving his community service in a charity centre in south London. Not that Martin ever wanted to visit such a place, but old dormitory chums help each other.
Things become complicated for Martin when his eager assistant Susan sees a pile of parking tickets strewn across his desk. She believes his number plate has been cloned and decides they should investigate and find the culprit. Martin is not so sure that another investigation is such a good idea. After all, he has enough money to support his privileged lifestyle and pay the fines without question.
Never one to be discouraged, Susan follows the leads, which take them to a run-down south London council estate, where Martin is introduced to a side of the capital he never imagined existed.
Before long, Martin is reluctantly mixing with drug dealers, sex chat-line operators, loan sharks, ageing criminals plus an unbearable little girl, all of whom he considers to be UPS (unpleasant people sorts).
Yet nothing will stop Susan getting at the truth, not even a male, good-looking Italian who collects saucy postcards and charms her with chilled Italian white wine.