A small town in northern England is rocked by murder and scandal at the local school in this chilling novel of psychological suspense.

Dominic Rose is a North Yorkshire school teacher with an antiquated hobby. He studies physiognomy, the art of judging somebody's character by their facial features and expressions. Living alone with his bedridden mother, he has spent decades pining after Clara, the love of his life, who vanished while staying with her grandparents.

When Kate Winston and her family move to town, she hopes her children will fit in at school. But her son's new friend has a bad reputation-and a serious grudge against their teacher, Mr. Rose. As rebellious mischief and dark secrets collide, they set in motion a chain of events that lead to terrifying consequences.