'Immensely impressive' - The Times 'A feast of intrigue' - Choice magazine 'An accomplished debut' - The Sunday Times A vulnerable young woman, fresh out of the care system, is trying to discover the truth behind the sudden death of her best friend. The charred body of a policeman - currently the subject of an internal investigation - is found in the burnt-out-shell of his car on the Southend seafront. To DS Frank Pearson and DC Catherine Russell of the Essex Police Major Investigation Team, the two events seem unconnected. But as they dig deeper into their colleague's murder, dark secrets begin to emerge. Can Pearson and Russell solve both cases, before more lives are destroyed?