An Asian newsagent is murdered, and the police fail to make any headway in their investigation. Fitz and Bilborough are not prepared to collaborate because of violent disagreements in the past. Instead Bilborough enrols the assistance of another psychologist, Doctor Nolan. Fitz knows that they are on the wrong track, and he has to decide whether to help.
Fitz and the police are finally reunited in their attempt to identify the killer who has now claimed two victims. When a third attack occurs, Fitz realises that the murderer is using the Hillsborough tragedy as his motive.
DCI Billborough has been murdered by Albie Kinsella. The replacement officer, DCI Wise beings an equally tense relationship with Fitz. Albie is still free and has devised a plan to exact his revenge for Hillsborough, but the police are sceptical about launching a full-scale manhunt.
Fitz is called in to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl who has been involved in a strange fundamentalist Christian sect with her teacher.
Missing teenager Joanne is found alive, but in a distressed and incoherent state following the attempted murder of her in a ritual by a sect. Fitz tries to untangle her confused ramblings in an attempt to establish the identity of - what he wrongly assumes at this stage - is the single attacker who's brought her to this strange state.
Tormented by another cruel and unnecessary death, Fitz pursues the Trant family almost to the point of obsession. But under Kenneth Trant's instruction, they have closed ranks, and without any proof, there seems to be nothing Fitz can do.
A serial rapist is avoiding police detection, even though he turns up at a reconstruction of his own crime, and calls up a radio phone-in featuring Fitz. Meanwhile Penhaligon is raped while she investigates the case, and her relationship with Fitz undergoes major changes. Fitz's wife Judith returns to the family home, and his domestic disorder is thrown into even deeper disarray.
The police have paid a terribly high price for failing to catch the rapist Floyd. Fitz does make a major breakthrough - only to find himself responsible for a tragic escalation of violence as Floyd becomes increasingly desperate.
Fitz exposes the savage damage of racism as he delves deeper into Floyd's story.
