When a teenage quarrel in the small town of Heartsdale explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton - paediatrician and medical examiner - finds herself entangled in a horrific tragedy. And what seems at first to be a terrible but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications when the autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse and ritualistic self-mutilation.

Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, but the children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime. And unless Sara and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the childen hide, it's going to happen again...

Past weekend there was a BIG geocaching event in Turku which I attended. However, the first thing I saw when I walked into the Kupittaa Hall was a bookcrossing table! :D There were few interesting books but I decided to get this one since I've been thinking of buying this couple of times when standing in front of a pocket book shelf in a bookstore. So far I've picked something else. I guess it is time for this now. :)

Oh goodness! :O Yes, this was definitely a thrilling book that hold me to the end. Yet this was cruel and violent and at times I wasn't sure I would like to know more. But of course I had to find out how things would turn out! Unfortunately the end was straight from the real life - those bad guys just keep on going. :( I think I have to read more of Slaughter's books...

The book will be left in the book swap cart at Metso library.