This novel was my first dipped-toe into the world of John Connolly, and it has convinced me to dive right on in. Even if the water is a little chilly…

Private Detective Charlie Parker has taken on the case of Rebecca Clay, a single mother with a stalker, a sinister man demanding answers regarding her father. Once-respected psychiatrist Daniel Clay has been missing for years, after suspicions came to light that he was involved in the continuing abuse and harm of children under his care. Merrick, the stalker, has reason to believe Daniel was involved in his own daughter’s disappearance.

This book is a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, as Detective Parker discovers that this hunt for revenge is fed by darker forces, working behind the scenes to ensure their own form of justice. A perfect blend of crime thriller and horror, this novel kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the final page. With a labyrinth of shocks and twists to hook every reader, Connolly is a force to be reckoned with.