When two seven-year-old boys are abducted from the wintry streets of Glasgow, the team at Partickhill police station have their hands full. It's just before Christmas, a house fire turns into a murder investigation and if that wasn't enough Scottish rock legend Rogan O'Neill is in town to play a benefit concert. The police are stretched to the limit. To make matters worse their new DCI has brought in a few new team members and no-one is very happy about it. Still reeling from the death of their previous boss the team are having a lot of changes to deal with. Meanwhile there's something evil stalking the streets of the city and for DI Colin Anderson the case is particularly unsettling as the boys look just like his own son, Peter. It seems no child is safe out there, as Peter is about to find out.

This is a tightly plotted and skilfully handled book. The multiple plot lines are carefully interwoven and it boasts a veritable host of interesting characters among the police and the myriad suspects and secondary roles. The main protagonists of Anderson and DS Costello are solid and believable, evolving though the books, which bodes well for the future of the series. This is an assured novel and I really liked it. Ramsay could step into Ian Rankin's shoes if she keeps this up.

Pat Austin, England
May 2009