Spraining an ankle is rarely a stroke of luck, but for Lindsay Gordon, jobless in Glasgow, the injury is her introduction to young freelance journalist Rory McLaren and the opening of a new chapter in her life. Rory''s invitation to work alongside her in her booth at the Cafe Virginia is irresistible. From there it is just a short step to political corruption and other juicy stories - all welcome distractions from Lindsay''s problems at home, where her long-term lover Sophie has decided to heed the ticking of her biological clock and get pregnant. But when a local car-dealer''s stepson is kidnapped, Lindsay and Rory are invited to trade journalism for detection. The trail leads them to St Petersburg and a dangerous snatch-back operation. It''s a journey that brings a whole new dimension of risk into Lindsay''s life. Back in Glasgow, it becomes clear that Lindsay and Rory have stumbled into a bigger, more violent piece of business than either of them could have guessed - and one which will test Lindsay to her absolute limits.

Autorentext

Val McDermid is a No.1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold more than sixteen million copies. She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009, was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2010. Val writes full time and lives in Edinburgh and the East Neuk of Fife.

Klappentext

From the no.1 bestseller Val McDermid: Lindsay Gordon teams up with a fellow journalist to investigate a kidnappingAfter a chance encounter leads to new opportunities, freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon partners with Rory Mclaren to investigate the kidnapping of Jack Gourlay, a local car dealer's stepson.

But when Jack's stepfather, Tam, is killed in an explosion, Lindsay and Rory realise this case is far more dangerous than expected.

As the violence escalates, Lindsay and Rory are caught in a web of political intrigue and personal vendettas, from which they may not escape with their lives.

Praise for Val McDermid

'McDermid remains unrivalled ... Brilliant' Observer

'Val McDermid is a born storyteller... absorbing reading' Sunday Telegraph

'A classic ... McDermid pulls out all the stops. Impeccable' Guardian