Part of Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James, book 10
First published 2005
A warehouse fire in Southwark reveals a woman's charred remains near a shelter for abuse victims. The corpse cannot be identified. Meanwhile, staff at Guy's Hospital search for their missing administrator, a fragile young woman who disappeared without warning. In a sprawling London house, nine-year-old Harriet lives with mounting terror. Her parents fight constantly. A strange woman watches over her in this frightening place. She feels trapped and alone. Detective Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid face personal challenges that complicate their work. The former partners and current lovers must investigate both the warehouse death and the hospital disappearance. They pursue separate leads without realizing the cases connect. As they dig deeper, the truth emerges about the burned woman and the missing administrator. But time runs short for Harriet, whose situation grows more dangerous. The child's safety depends on how quickly Gemma and Duncan can solve these linked mysteries.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, intimate, separate-investigations
Setting: Southwark, Guy's Hospital, London
Period: Contemporary
384 pages · Mass Market Paperback · William Morrow Paperbacks
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, mental-illness