When a child is abducted from an Essex kindergarten, Detective Inspector Dog Cicero finds himself entangled in a high-stakes investigation that forces him to confront his own traumatic past. Cicero must navigate a web of deception involving the child's mother, whose background in Northern Ireland triggers his own painful memories, and a mysterious Superintendent from Special Branch who seems determined to obstruct the case. As the investigation deepens, Cicero realizes that the official narrative is a facade designed to hide a much more dangerous reality. The narrative follows Cicero's perspective as he attempts to uncover the truth while battling both professional interference and his own personal demons.

This novel is characterized by the sharp, cynical wit and intricate plotting typical of Reginald Hill's detective fiction. The narrative relies on a dense, layered mystery that forces the protagonist to balance his professional duties with his personal history. Readers likely appreciate the focus on the psychological depth of the lead character, whose internal struggles provide a compelling counterpoint to the external investigation. The story avoids simple resolutions, instead favoring a complex examination of how past conflicts continue to influence the present.