One of Us Is Dead

When James Taylor arrives late for a funeral, he has to stand at the back of the small church. As the service progresses, he notices a man seated six rows in front of him. At first, Taylor thinks he must be mistaken ; but the more he looks at the man, the more convinced he becomes that this is his old school friend Rufus Rorke. Except it couldn't be him, could it ? Because two years ago Taylor attended Rufus Rorke's funeral.
He even delivered the eulogy. On the other side of Brighton, at Police HQ, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has been alerted to a number of suspicious deaths that he can't get out of his mind. But how are they linked ? And how could they possibly be connected to Rufus Rorke ?