When Kayleigh Harwood, a young hairdresser, is reported missing by her mother in the worst blizzards Harrowfield has experienced in years, D.I. Jack Dylan and his team are called in to assist. Kayleigh’s car is found abandoned with her mobile phone inside but there is no sign of her. Clothing is found on nearby moorland and a search of the local quarry begins. The investigation turns to a loner living in a dwelling close to where Kayleigh’s car was found. As the snow thaws human remains are found and Dylan’s boss Chief Superintendent Hugo-Watkins thinking the two incidents are linked calls out the entire Major Incident Team, much to Dylan’s disbelief. Meanwhile Dylan’s wife, Jen, becomes distracted and distant as unbeknown to Dylan her ex-fiancé is in their midst and stalking her. 

Detective Inspector Jack Dylan’s list of things to do is getting out of control. He has two unconnected murders to solve. One victim is a small child and the other a young woman; plus a missing detective to find. Long hours are part of the job, but does he have the time to figure out the pieces to the crime jigsaws, and save his relationship?With the pressure mounting, Dylan has to solve the murder of Liz, a young woman found burned alive in a public park. He also has to find out where half a million pounds of the young woman’s money has gone and how his missing sergeant may be involved in the whole sorry mess. Usually the search for the murderer begins with the immediate family but the dead woman’s husband is in prison.

Two separate fatal road accidents killing three people are a cause for concern. Then the body of an elderly lady is found in her home, with a cause for suspicious death.In different locations, two girls are brutally attacked and it is thought the events might be linked, but how is not clear. One or two local rogues could be responsible and are prime suspects. Arrests are to be made when a brutal attack on the occupants of the flat is discovered. One person is dead with horrific injuries and another is fighting for life. A young boy is stabbed and an elderly lady is taken hostage at knifepoint in a subway. Dylan is called to take charge. Whilst Dylan is confronted by a madman, his partner Jen goes into labour alone and collapses unconscious. Both are life threatening situations that need a quick resolution, and once again Dylan is spinning numerous plates at once.

A burglary at Harrowfield mortuary. The body of 30 year old Kirsty Gallagher is missing.   Nearby, uniform police are searching the canal along with a small diving squad, following the discovery of some clothes by the bank side. The body of a naked man is hoisted from the murky depths. His ankles are tied by a piece of rope connected to concrete.   Kirsty’s decomposing corpse is eventually found and an arrest is made which leads to a network of men whom D.I Dylan can only describe as reprobates.