It starts with a murder. A female is the perpetrator, but someone else is looking on. DI Thorne and DI Tanner are on the trail, but to start with there isn't a lot of evidence.

Then after the second murder, suddenly there is and in what could be described as a lazy mistake the female is arrested. She admits to another murder and it all seems to be too easy.

Three couples from the UK are on holiday in Florida, Angie and Barry, Sue and Ed and Marina and Dave. All the couples are quite different, but in a holiday setting where life's a beach or a pool and there are a few beers and wines to be had they all get along well.

They are a little curious about a mother and her daughter, who has learning difficulties. But then the daughter goes missing (later found dead) the day before they are all scheduled to leave.

This is DI Thorne's first case and prequel to Sleephead.

Two friends are in the playground with their children who are the best of friends. They go off to play hide and seek, with Maria set to watch them. Maria takes a moment to catch her breath and a cigarette and takes her eye off them.

She hears a scream, Cat (Kieron's mum) comes running and Maria's son Josh reappears but not Cat's son. He is nowhere to be found.

DI Tom Thorne teams up with Russel Brigstock in this, one of his first, cases. We are also introduced to the likeable larrakin pathologist Phil Hendricks.