'One of the boldest thriller writers working today' TESS GERRITSEN'Her characters, plot, and pacing are unrivalled. . .' MICHAEL CONNELLY________________________________________The second book in Karin Slaughter's #1 bestselling GRANT COUNTY series.When a teenage quarrel in the small town of Heartsdale explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton - paediatrician and medical examiner - finds herself entangled in a horrific tragedy. What seems at first to be an individual catastrophe has wider implications when the autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse and ritualistic self-mutilation.Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, but the children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it soon becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime.And unless Sara and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it is going to happen again._________________________________________Crime and thriller masters know there's nothing better than a little Slaughter:'I'd follow her anywhere' GILLIAN FLYNN'Passion, intensity, and humanity' LEE CHILD'A writer of extraordinary talents' KATHY REICHS'Fiction doesn't get any better than this' JEFFERY DEAVER'A great writer at the peak of her powers' PETER JAMES'Raw, powerful and utterly gripping' KATHRYN STOCKETT'With heart and skill Karin Slaughter keeps you hooked from the first page until the last' CAMILLA LACKBERG'Amongst the world's greatest and finest crime writers' YRSA SIGURÐARDÓTTIR