A young painter asks for help when his wife and child go missing. Mary finds herself on the trail of a very dangerous killer, one whom Sherlock might be protecting for reasons known only to him. -- provided by publisher.

Originally published in hardcover: [New York] : Bantam Books, 2009. Includes excerpt from the author's book: The god of the hive. "A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes" -- from the cover.