July 18, 2011
In McDermid's crafty stand-alone thriller, psychiatrist Charlotte "Charlie" Flint gives expert testimony at the Leicester murder trial of Bill Hopton that contributes to his acquittal. When Hopton later kills several women, the ensuing uproar leads to Charlie's professional suspension. Eager for distraction, Charlie welcomes the arrival of an envelope from her old Oxford professor, Corinna Newsam. The envelope contains newspaper clippings about the recent murder of businessman Philip Carling, whose body was found on his wedding day at St. Scholastika's, the same Oxford college Charlie attended. Philip's bride was Corinna's daughter, Magda, whom Charlie used to babysit during her Oxford days. Convinced the wrong people are behind bars for Philip's murder, Corinna wants Charlie to investigate the "real" killer: "bestselling misery memoir author" Jennifer "Jay" Macallan Stewart, Corinna's former protégée and Magda's secret lover, whom Magda believes Corinna despises because of her sexuality. McDermid (Fever of the Bone) once again spins a wonderfully twisted plot that will leave readers guessing until the final reveal.