The 'book of the dead' is the morgue log in which all cases are entered. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to have a new meaning. Fresh from her battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta moves to South Carolina and opens a private forensic pathology practice. A string of brutal killings shatters her dreams of a quiet life.
A young woman loses her family, her friends, almost anyone who has ever even done her a kindness to a maniacal serial killer. It's as if every trace of human contact is being wiped out of her life. Her terrifying case is handed to a woman who has had so much of her own happiness snatched away from her: Smoky Barrett, the extraordinary heroine of Mcfadyen's stunning debut SHADOW MAN. Now caring for her murdered friend's mute daughter, Smoky must decide whether or not she can rise to one more fiendish challenge...
Once, Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the best until a madman terrorized her family, killed her husband and daughter, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him dead but her life was shattered forever. Now Smoky dreams about picking up her weapon again. She dreams about placing the cold steel between her lips and pulling the trigger one last time. Because for a woman who's lost everything, what is there left to lose? She's about to find out.In all her years at the Bureau, Smoky has never encountered anyone like him: a new and fascinating kind of monster, a twisted genius who defies profilers' attempts to understand him. And he's issued Smoky a direct challenge, coaxing her back from the brink with the only thing that could convince her to live.The killer videotaped his latest crime, an act of horror that left a child motherless, then sent a message addressed to Agent Smoky Barrett. The message is enough to shock Smoky back to work, back to her FBI team. And that child awakens something in Smoky she thought was gone forever.Suddenly the stakes are raised. The game has changed. For as this deranged monster embarks on an unspeakable spree of perversion and murder, Smoky is coming alive again and she's about to face her greatest fears as a cop, a woman, a mother—and a merciless killer's next victim.From the Hardcover edition.
Terrorists working to stop the building of a power plant threaten to trigger an earthquake on California's coast line. An FBI expert warns that the individual behind the threat is sane, capable and serious. If he causes the earthquake millions of lives will be at risk.
In 1866, tragedy strikes the prestigious Windfield School when a young student drowns under mysterious circumstances. This incident sets off a chain of treachery that spans three decades, intertwining the lives of many. The narrative unfolds across London’s elite, from exclusive men’s clubs and brothels to opulent ballrooms and the corridors of financial power. A single family's legacy is shattered by the greed and shocking truths surrounding the boy’s death, threatening the very dreams of a nation. Praise highlights the book as a gripping thriller filled with political and romantic intrigues, cold-blooded murder, and financial crises. Critics describe it as a "terrific page-turner" and "breathlessly plotted," emphasizing its relentless suspense and complex characters. The story promises to captivate readers with its rich, thrilling narrative and masterful plotting, reminiscent of the author's previous works. It’s noted for its engaging portrayal of greed and retribution, ensuring that readers will be unable to put it down. With broad, realistic characterizations and a compelling plot, this tale is set to attract both fans of historical thrillers and new readers alike.