There is a serial killer in the cathedral town of Lafferton; he is targeting prostitutes. Two are killed, another is badly injured. Simon Serailler is called back from his holiday on a remote Scottish island to lead the police investigation. It is not just the police who need him. His recently-bereaved sister and her children who want Simon home.

From the crime perspective, I really liked the book. I was horrified by its ending, and briefly had to stop reading as I was so taken aback by the book's final pages. That's something that has not happened in a long time, that sort of shock during the denoument.

I have alwaays enjoyed this series for the domesticity of it. The family relations are always changing, and they provide a safety net for the characters and for the readers of the book. This time, that homely feeling was not there, but I think it was deliberate. With Chris dead, and Richard re-married, nothing feels the same. Simon is short-tempered and acting as selfishly with woman as always; this time it isn't okay. I felt annoyed with him for much of the book.

The characterization is excellent. Ruth Webber is drawn so well. I've met women like her, having grown up in the heart of the Anglican church. She is a compendium of the worst qualities of a very few of the church women I have met. I also have high church vs low church opinions, and have strong feelings about continuing the use of the Book of Common Prayer service. It is perfect and I don't like the new liturgy.

To sum up: good book, frightening, good back story, reader gets to grieve the loss of Chris along with Cat and the kids. ( )

Another very good Susan Hill story. She makes you love Abi!! ( )

I probably just sound like a broken record about this series at this point. They're great mysteries. They're all great. ( )

Have been very fond of the Simon Serrailler series... this one was good, but maybe not the best. But I've not written one book, much less the dozens that S. Hill has achieved... And I am looking forward to the next one! ( )

SPOILERS

Some one is killing prostitutes in Lafferton, then the Dean's wife goes missing. Simon doesn't seem to be particularly effective at solving the case. Indeed the police spend most of their time harassing a librarian who takes the women food and drink at night to the point that he has a heart attack. Despite various people describing him and his actions as odd, his motivation for what he does is never revealed.

I quite enjoyed Ruth, the Dean's wife, while she was being a baddie, but sadly that didn't last. The novel lost its way badly in the middle - lots of floundering and descriptions of childcare arrangements and meals - without any structure or progress. In the end the murderer is only discovered because he attacks Cat for no discernible reason - he just has a taste for killing by now? - and is interrupted. ( )