Winner of the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year in 1986, this is a chilling insight into the mind of the criminally insane, from the world's greatest living crime writer. Perfect for fans of Rendell's chilling psychological thrillers, including Thirteen Steps Down and Adam and Eve and Pinch Me.

Victor Jenner is a sociopath. After ten years in prison for shooting - and permanently crippling - a young policeman, Victor is released to a strange new world and told to make a new life for himself. It's hard to adjust to civilian life, but at least there's one blessing - he was never convicted for all those rapes he committed. Then Victor meets David, the policeman he shot, and David's beautiful girlfriend, Clare. And suddenly Victor's new life is starting to look an awful lot like the old one.

"Powerfully claustrophobic" - Guardian

"Ruth Rendell shows an unparalleled understanding of human evil." - Sunday Times

"Compelling, disturbing and masterfully written." - The Times

"Rendell knows how to make your hair stand up straight on your head" - Maeve Binchy

"There are quite a few Ruth Rendells: the doyenne of the traditional English detective novel; the queen of the psychological thriller; the celebrated author of the literary thriller" - Mail on Sunday