On his first day back at work following his suspension, DI McLusky finds himself in the midst of a major murder enquiry when a body is discovered in the canal at Netham Lock. Chained, weighted down, tied to a buoy by the neck, it has all the hallmarks of a premeditated, ritualistic killing. As he questions those who knew the victim in an attempt to uncover the dead woman's secrets, McLusky's investigations are disrupted by the discovery of a second body. Bound and gagged like the first - but there are differences.

If McLusky could only work out what connects the victims, he would be one step closer to catching the killer - and preventing more deaths.

Meanwhile, his rival DI Kat Fairfield is pursuing a routine investigation which takes a decidedly sinister turn .