In a foster home outside Oslo, the institution's steely director Agnes Vestavik is found murdered at her desk, stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife; 12-year-old Olav is nowhere to be found, but he certainly has the makings of a killer. The case goes to maverick investigator Hanne Wilhelmsen, in this "unforgettable" (Kirkus Reviews) third outing in Anne Holt's series, following Blessed Are Those Who Thirst. Working alongside abrasive detective Billy T., an insecure Wilhelmsen struggles to manage the investigation, while young Olav makes his way through the city, seeking the mother who was forced to consign him to the state's care.

"Always adept at balancing emotional narrative and strong suspense, Holt has crafted another must-read with this fascinating peek into a modern Sherlock's investigative mind."—Booklist