Some things are better left buried.

Recovering on a remote Scottish island after a near-fatal injury, DCS Simon Serrailler hopes to leave his trauma behind. But when a body washes ashore, he is drawn into a new murder inquiry, and the fragile peace he has found is shattered.

Back in Lafferton, an obsessed mother's desperate appeal reopens a cold case, and an arsonist's deadly spree threatens to engulf the town.

A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Ruth Rendell and P.D. James.

In the ninth novel in Susan Hill's acclaimed British mystery series, Serrailler's personal and professional lives violently collide:

• A detective returns to the edge: Still haunted by his past, Simon must navigate the shifting loyalties and complex family dynamics in his hometown.
• The sinister side of home: As Lafferton descends into chaos, Serrailler's own sister, Dr. Cat Deerbon, finds her new married life and career tested by both family troubles and the town's darkest secrets.
• The truth is closer than ever: The review of a long-unsolved missing persons case brings Simon closer to the heart of the town's buried history and its deadliest secrets.

A powerfully atmospheric and character-rich mystery that confirms Susan Hill's masterful ability to intertwine domestic drama with deeply unsettling psychological suspense.