The nineteenth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell.

''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The Times

Kay Scarpetta has arranged to meet an inmate at the high-security Georgia Prison for Women. The prisoner is a convicted sex offender and the mother of a vicious and diabolically brilliant killer.

Against advice, Scarpetta is determined to hear this woman out - she believes she may hold some answers to the murder of her former deputy. But soon she finds connections to a string of grisly killings.

As she learns more, Scarpetta is compelled to conclude that this is only the beginning of a terrifying terrain of conspiracy on an international scale. And she is the only one who can stop it . . .

The next book in the Scarpetta series is The Bone Bed. And the brand-new instalment, Identity Unknown, is available now!

DISCOVER THE SERIES THAT SHAPED THE WORLD OF CRIME FICTION

''One of the best crime writers writing today'' Guardian

''Devilishly clever'' Sunday Times

''The top gun in this field'' Daily Telegraph

''Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns'' Mirror

''The Agatha Christie of the DNA age'' Express