When an eleven-year-old girl is found murdered, Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, gets another chance at stopping one of the most heartless and horrifying serial killers of her career: the demented Temple Gault.

"Among the grittiest of this season's crime novels...convincing...chilling."— Time

"All the pacing and suspense Cornwell fans have come to expect."— People

"Reminiscent of The Silence of the Lambs. Her writing is masterful."— Booklist