In a quiet Manchester suburb, a man sets himself on fire in a petrol station. Nearby, a fourteen-year-old girl murders her mother in cold blood.

At the Coroner's Officer, Detective Inspector Ridpath is called in to investigate both of these baffling deaths. Is one a suicide and and the other an unexplained murder? Or does something more sinister link the two seemingly unconnected tragedies?

As Ridpath delves deeper, he must confront the darkness lurking in the most unexpected places, where even innocent facades can hide the darkest of truths. Can he prevent more deaths?

An unputdownable and suspenseful crime thriller from the bestselling author, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Trevor Wood.