First published in 1885, the novel tells the story of Kate Ede, a bored Midlands housewife unhappily married to an asthmatic draper. When a handsome travelling actor comes to lodge with her family, Kate succumbs to temptation, with disastrous consequences.
Two people swap murders. It should have proved untraceable, but one of the murderers is insane - he has killed before and is likely to kill again. The case comes to the attention of Lucas Davenport, the explosive, porsche-driving police officer featured in the book "Rules of Prey".
Lilah Brecht, daughter of Hollywood movie queen, is brutally raped. Blindfolded during the attack, her description of the attacker comes from her gift of second sight and she proclaims that Detective Sergeant Pete Decker is the only policeman who can truly understand and help her.
In Rowland's masterful 14th historical to feature Sano Ichiro, a year has passed since the events chronicled in 2008's The Fire Kimono, but the calm that has prevailed since the shogun made Sano and his archrival, Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, co-chamberlains is about to be shattered. Maj. Kumazawa Hiroyuki, Sano's estranged uncle, comes to him for help after the major's 33-year-old daughter, Chiyo, disappears. The detective-turned-politician manages to find Chiyo, but not before she has been violated.
Lucy Harrison sells books by day and volunteers with the Cypress Hollow fire department by night. Her life is just the way she likes it—full, even-keeled, and smooth—until bad-boy ex-cop Owen Bancroft comes back to town. Lucy has always been fearless, never scared about diving in to help others. When it comes to risking her heart, however, she realizes she's absolutely terrified.
