Inspector Vera Stanhope finds herself embroiled in a perplexing death on the isolated island of Ternstone, a place known primarily for its abundant birdlife and the rangers dedicated to its observation. The discovery of a body, brutally dep…

A young man’s body was found floating face down in the river near Thrunton Woods. Identifying the deceased, however, presented a considerable challenge for Vera and her team.

The summons for Vera came from Northumberland University, a grim dispatch spurred by a student's fatal fall from the roof of an abandoned faculty building.

The discovery of a missing teenager's body, buried deep within the moorland, compels Vera to unravel the life and hidden truths of the girl who had vanished.