When the decomposed body of a young woman is found near railway tracks just outside Bristol one hot May morning, all indications are that she’s committed suicide. That’s how the police want it too; all neatly squared and tidied away.

But DI Jack Caffery is not so sure. He is on the trail of someone predatory, someone who hides in the shadows and can slip into houses unseen. And for the first time in a very long while, he feels scared.

Police Diver Flea Marley is working alongside Caffery. Having come to terms with the loss of her parents, and with the traumas of her past safely behind her, she’s beginning to wonder whether their relationship could go beyond the professional.

And then she finds something that changes everything. Not only is it far to close to home for comfort – but it’s so horrifying that she knows nothing will ever be the same again.

And that this time, no one – not even Caffery  – can help her…

‘‘Hider is not subdued a writer. Her characters are almost as chilling as the horrors that they are investigating. The inner demons of Caffrey and Marley make turmoils of Rankin’s Rebus or Mankell’s Wallander seem puny and adoloescent… She writes and plots with panache. Macabre, yes, but also absorbing and hugely entertaining.’’

The Times

‘‘Hayder is the closest we’ve got to Stephen King…the goriest thriller this side of the pond.’’ Mirror

‘‘Hayder has a profound ability to shock and surprise her readers. She is the bravest writer I know.’’ Karin Slaughter

‘‘Hayder’s gory insights into the dark are compelling.’’ Guardian

‘‘Warped…bloodthirsty…No matter how much you despise yourself for getting sucked into such places, Hayder is brilliant at making you read on.’’ Daily Telegraph

“There is no doubt that Mo Hayder writes a gripping story” Mystery Women

“Another grisly tale destined for the bestseller lists. She’s terrific” The Bookseller

“Hayder’s chilling thriller…captures the claustrophobia of Flea’s dives in unsettling detail and continues to build on her two damaged heroes”

Publishers Weekly

“Violated corpses and many other nasty things keep surfacing at smartly timed intervals in this high-octane thriller from Hayder… Nice work once again from one of the most dependable pros in the murder business” Kirkus Review

“Hayder’s smart, damaged characters are nuanced and this is another of his uncanny, eerie, and unforgettable thrillers.” Tova Baiser, Brown University Bookstore

“Once again Haider has written a book that will make you want to leave the lights on and will have you squirming while you read. Pure genius.” Crimespree