Hardened as she had become to violent tragedy during six years as coroner, there were still cases that hit her like a fist in the heart. This was already one of them . . .

Bristol Coroner Jenny Cooper is called to the scene of a dreadful tragedy: in the village of Blackstone Ley, a house has burned to the ground with three members of a family inside.

Though evidence of foul play is quickly uncovered, it isn't long before the police investigation is drawn to a close. It seems certain that the fire was started by one of the victims, Ed Morgan, in a fit of jealous rage.

But as Jenny prepares the inquest, she finds herself troubled by the official version of events. What could have provoked Ed's murderous rampage? How might the other, guarded inhabitants of the village have been involved? And what could the connection be with the mysterious abduction of a little girl ten years ago?

Praise for the Coroner Jenny Cooper series

'Hall's Gold Dagger-nominated books, quite simply, get better each time' Independent on Sunday

'Hall shows with aplomb that a coroner is just as able to become a detective as the forensic pathologists of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs' Sunday Times

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Coroner Jenny Cooper: the last word in crime