The tangy smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the early morning mist. As it lifts, a shape emerges in the centre of the tranquil meadow. A scarecrow? No… rising from the ashes of a dying fire, stands a blackened wooden cross – and tied to it, the dark outline of a body.

When a woman is found burnt at the stake on the edge of a pretty English village, the police suspect this is no ordinary murder. Dr. Harrison Lane, Head of the Ritualistic Behavioral Crime unit, is quickly summoned to unravel the mystery.

As Harrison investigates, he uncovers a web of deceit woven through the tight-knit community of Thistleford. The villagers claim the victim, Louise Swift, was a gifted psychic, beloved by all… but Harrison immediately senses darker forces at play.

When another body is discovered at nearby Harmony House, home to a group of reclusive ex-convicts seeking redemption, the case takes a sinister turn. Are the deaths connected? And does the house harbor more potential victims… or something far more dangerous?

As Harrison races to catch the killer, he must confront his own demons, re-awakened by this grisly case. Can he see through the lies all around him and unmask the evil hiding in Thistleford before it's too late?

A gripping thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of J M Dalgliesh and Rachel Lynch.