Traffic cop Sal Delaney has to solve another twisted and dark case in this pulse-pounding and gritty police procedural set in the north of England, with a complex, intriguing female protagonist.

"Mark is a superbly gifted writer who creates a bleak, unforgiving setting, deeply damaged characters, and a plot that ramps up the violence, tension, and suspense to an almost unbearable level before an explosive ending that will leave readers utterly shattered" Booklist Starred Review on When the Bough Breaks

North of England. Cumbria. While Salome Delaney is trying to juggle daily life, she struggles to keep it all together. Looking after her ex-boyfriend’s daughters, trying to do her job as a Collision Investigation Officer and dealing with the aftermath of the shocking discoveries around her most trusted mentor isn’t an easy task.

A new case which involves more than just a car accident doesn’t help her mental health. Things get even worse when she is assigned to Detective Chief Inspector Magda Quinn who seems to have a vendetta against her and tries to make her life even more miserable.

Without realising it, Sal is sucked into a twisted and dark case involving medieval torture chambers which contain buried secrets that come to light and make Sal almost lose her mind for good – and if she isn’t careful, she might even lose her life . . .

Fans of David Mark’s critically acclaimed DS McAvoy mysteries as well as readers of Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Denise Mina and Peter Robinson shouldn’t miss this suspenseful sequel in the Sal Delaney series by Sunday Times bestselling author David Mark.