Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard seeks the identity of an amoral killer in the death of a boy missing from a school in West Sussex.
Dennis Luxford's past catches up with him when he receives an anonymous note demanding that he admit to fathering the daughter of an up-and-coming politician who refuses to allow the information to be made public.
Vacationing at the seaside while recuperating from injuries, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers arranges to have herself assigned to an investigation into the murder of a Pakistani immigrant that has exploded into full scale racial incident.