First published 2007
Superintendent Duncan Kincaid stares at the charred remains of a warehouse near London's docks. The building sat just steps from a shelter for battered women, and now autopsy results confirm what he suspected: the burned corpse inside was murdered before the flames took hold. Kincaid and his colleague Gemma James initially connect the killing to a custody battle gone wrong, suspecting links to a young girl's recent kidnapping. The child's parents had been fighting over her care when she vanished. But as more people disappear without explanation, the detectives must reconsider their theory. Fresh fires begin breaking out across the city, creating new dangers and muddying their investigation. Kincaid and James find themselves chasing leads that seem to shift like smoke, while the threat of more arson looms over London. The case tests both their professional partnership and personal relationship as they work to uncover the truth behind the escalating violence.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, partners-to-lovers
Setting: London
Period: contemporary
416 pages · Paperback · ALBIN MICHEL
Content warnings: violence