Everyone knows that they caught the local child killer, and that formerly popular local priest Father Paul Marie is doing hard time. Everyone is so sure that, when 15 years later two little girls disappear, the police are sure that they have run away and will turn up soon. Everyone, that is, except for state police investigator Rouge, whose sister was the victim 15 years ago, and scarred beautiful criminologist Ali, who believes Father Paul Marie's claims of innocence. They have their own problems--why is his family broke, and what caused her scar? Things are not going as well as they might for the killer either; this particular pair of children have resources of pluck and ingenuity that constantly baffle him.

This is a departure for O'Connell; she has abandoned her usual detective, high-tech psychopath Mallory and her crew of misfits, for people less obviously extraordinary and brings the same skewed intelligent vision of human capability to bear on them. The switches between investigators trying to unravel past and present, and victims surviving against the odds, successfully wind up the tension to an almost unendurable pitch; O'Connell turns in a virtuoso combination of detection and suspense that is her best book yet. --Roz Kaveney

2007-03-13 What's not to enjoy

This is a truly fantastic book. If you're thinking about buying or reading it - stop thinking and do it !!

Carol O'Connell has created a unique tale. The characters are never two dimensional and it is a complete cast, rather than a single character supporting the story. Although the plot twists and turns, taking you to dark and lonely places, it never looses you. And to me this is Carol O'Connell's true success. She has created an intelligent and thoughtful read, right to the last page without seeming to try too hard. You want to follow her through the maze and while you may be afraid of what lies in the shadows you will be compelled to go on.

A book that is more enjoyable to read than read about, so off you go, click that Purchase button and have fun.