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Rachel is a book-smart girl with a sparky attitude. Now a Detective Sergeant, fast-tracked quicker than her peers, she is driven, ambitious and determined to succeed. She’s idealistic about her role, and thinks that being a police officer is an important and privileged responsibility. She takes the oath that she made at the end of her training very seriously.

Gently’s not afraid of working with her, but he’s cautious with a patriarchal protectiveness. This protectiveness is well meant but annoys Rachel at times. Gently recognises where Rachel’s spikiness and desire to be the best comes from - she needs a stable place to be: a family. That's what the cop shop can be to some people. But she is clear too that she wants to do her best not just because of Gently’s demanding and high expectations, but because she believes in the work.

Rachel throws Bacchus’ perceived order of things into confusion. He always thought that it was police, men and then women in the hierarchy of life. Bacchus misses no opportunity to put her in her place, giving her some of the more tedious jobs – but there’s a spark there too. The banter between them is feisty and Rachel is more than Bacchus’ match. But for the first time, Bacchus’ vulnerability will mean that Rachel is concerned for him - and they will finally bond strongly through a case that puts their lives in danger.

Rachel’s not a woman trying to be a policeman. She’s a new, emerging and talented police officer. Gently is fascinated by her as a different kind of cop.