29th in the Anthony Bathurst mystery series

"What I smelt and what you smelt, Constable Wragg, was burning flesh!"

William Norman dies of shock after being burnt by hot coals. The Mallett constabulary first look for a motive amongst his fellow farmers. But when a second murder occurs by poisoning, and a third by drowning, it appears this is no farming dispute but the work of a serial killer stalking the streets.

With no indication of where the killer is going to strike next, Anthony Bathurst and Scotland Yard are initially at a complete loss. Are the killings random or are they following an unseen pattern? And how many more bodies will be needed to complete that pattern?