Enter new client Leon: educated, charming, affluent -- and newly bereaved, following the death of his married lover, Michelle. Cristina soon learns that Leon has an ulterior motive for approaching her: Michelle was one of her clients, and Leon is desperate for her insights into the woman he loved. A woman’s suicide puts a detective on the trail of a cold-hearted con artist: “Outstanding..��. a maximum of suspense” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review).

Sarah thinks of herself as a normal single mum. It’s what she wants others to think of her. But the truth is, she needs something new, something thrilling.Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. not only can I tell you why my sister jumped in front of that train, I can tell you the name of the man responsible for it’.

Moved by the depth of his feelings, Cristina is drawn to help him through his grief. But as she struggles to ignore her own growing attraction to sophisticated, attentive Leon, her boundaries start to blur and then collapse, and the two embark on their own clandestine love affair.This is a sad, sad day. I've never given a Billingham novel two stars. I have read all of his novels, apart from #15 which didn't appeal to me as it's about a cat killer, and well ... I have cats. There are some things I just don't want to read about, and animal cruelty and death is right up there on the top spot of #thanksbutnothanks With stunning mind bending twists, the full story come out to the reader. I think I sat with my mouth open. The old saying ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive’ is somewhat relevant in this story. All of the protagonists have secrets and tell lies not only to themselves but also to others. Oh and let us not forget the three amigos own little secret. When we are introduced to one particular character it’s quite a sad lie, one that at some points is quite heartbreaking. I wonder if we may revisit this character again some time in the future. There’s something comforting about returning to a recurring series of novels with characters you have grown very familiar with. It’s exciting to see your favorite protagonists thrown into different places and circumstances, having to rely on the personal history and particular traits to solve the new problem they face.