It is 1932 and John Madden, former Scotland Yard Inspector, is now a farmer in the peaceful Surrey countryside, enjoying the idyllic days of his retirement and precious time spent with his wife, Helen, and their two children.
But the family's peace is about to be shattered. When a young girl goes missing, it is Madden who discovers her disfigured body hidden in a wood, and he is convinced the killer has struck before. . .
When a second body is found, Madden's instinct is proved right - there is a serial murderer at large. Allying himself with his old colleagues, and against the wishes of his anxious wife, he immerses himself in one more case.
The killer is a master of evil and reinvention who has been covering his tracks for many years. If Madden is to outwit him, he will need to stay one step ahead in the brutal dance he is performing.
And soon significant links are discovered in Germany, where the Nazi's are on the brink of power.....