A tragedy has changed Rosa Thorn's life forever. Now she's taken the post of drama teacher at the local school that her teenage son and daughter attend. But something strange is going on…When a growing sense of unease turns into sudden violence, Rosa fears for her safety and, even more so, that of her children. For her daughter is the object of someone's demented infatuation. But like a diseased animal, the real threat stalks the shadows, in the night-black recesses of the undergrowth— not just of the city, but of the human mind…

Cambridge-educated and a major new talent, Vena Cork is a name to watch. Fans of Nicci French and Minette Walters, or anyone with a taste for edgy psychological thrillers, will find her one of the most exciting discoveries in years.