THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' ( Guardian)
WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGER
'A legend.' VAL MCDERMID
'P. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRON
'Written with the precision of cut diamonds.' IRISH TIMES
PERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS

Dalgliesh recognised with weary resignation the first lie and wondered how many more there would be before the investigation was complete.

On a crisp January morning, a group of third year nursing students gather in Nightingale House for a clinical lesson. One student will play the patient, while the others practice their nursing skills. But none of them is prepared for the demonstration's gruesome end.
Later, when a student dies by apparent suicide, Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh is sure her death must be connected to what happened during that fateful demonstration. But in order to prove this and uncover the truth, he must sweep away a cloud of secrets, lies and blackmail at the nursing school - before there are any more deaths.

'Outstanding . . . a classic closed community of suspects, plenty of scrupulously laid false trails, credible detectives and a totally unexpected ending.' Telegraph