by Mo Hayder
First published 2011
A young woman's body surfaces with slashed wrists in what looks like suicide. Detective Jack Caffery suspects otherwise when similar deaths emerge, all connected to Elf's Grotto, a network of water-filled quarries outside the city. The sweltering port town breeds tension as Caffery hunts for a predator who moves through shadows and enters homes without detection. Police diver Flea Marley joins the investigation, plunging into the dark waters to search for evidence. But her discoveries lead to something personal that isolates her from Caffery and everyone else. As the body count rises, both investigators face a villain who understands how family bonds can become weapons. The case forces them to confront how evil manipulates the relationships that should protect us.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, detective-story, serial-killer
Setting: Elf's Grotto, Port Town
384 pages · Paperback · Grove Press
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence, murder