AfterherbittersweetsuccessinseriesoneKarenhasbeenpromotedtoDetectiveInspectorandseeminglygiventheauthorityshehaslongbeenfightingfor.Justasshe’sgettingintotheswingofherpowerfulnewrolesheisassignedaninfamousunsolvedcasethatwillputherunderintensescrutiny;fromherbossfromthemediaandultimatelyfromsinisterforcesthatwouldratherthepaststayedinthepast.The1984caseofCatrionaandAdamGranthasconfoundedinvestigatorsandintriguedthepubliclikenoother.CatrionathecharmingyoungheiresstoavastoilfortuneandhertwoyearoldsonAdamwerebrutallykidnappedatgunpointoutsideafishandchipshopinFife.TheransomnotesthatfollowedstirredupanuncontrollablepressstormbutwhentheculpritsfellsilentthepolicefalteredandCatrionaandAdamwereneverseenagain.Nowaman’sbodyhasbeendiscoveredwithindisputablelinkstotheoriginalkidnap.WiththefirstpieceofevidenceindecadesKarenmustassembleanunbeatableteamalongsidehersincereandlovablesidekickDCJason‘Mint’andthebrilliant–butromanticallycomplicated–DSPhilParhatka.WiththeinternationalrenownofthekidnapandtheconstantpressurefromCatriona’sfatherSirBroderickGranttheteamtakeonthebiggestchallengeoftheircareerstodate.AsKarendelvesdeeperintowhathappenedintheautumnof1984politicalgrudgesandpainfulsecretsrevealthemselvesanditsoonbecomesclear…thepastisfarfromdead.
