Never one to shy away from difficult and topical subject matter, in this, her 18th Inspector Wexford novel, Rendell serves up another gripping slice of Kingsmarkham life in which she deftly weaves together the thorny issues of paedophilia, kidnapping, domestic violence and cop killing. Chief Inspector Wexford, is once more surprised by the complexity of human emotional life both at work as well as at home, where he struggles to come to terms with his feelings for his difficult daughter. Not a bum note sounded, of course, and an atmosphere of quiet but persistent menace. (Kirkus UK)