At first, everyone presumed that the woman behind the windbreak was asleep. It was only when the tide was coming in, and all but lapping at her feet, that the astonishing truth was discovered. On a sunny summer's afternoon at Wightview Sands, surrounded by swimmers, sunbathers and small children, the most horrific of crimes had been carried out.
But before the investigation can become whodunnit, there's the even more pressing question of who-is-it. With no car left in the car park, no bag on the beach, discovering the woman's identity is going to be a challenge in itself. And these aren't the only problems facing Sussex police: by the time they reach Wightview sands, the crime scene has been washed away and crucial witnesses have disappeared home.
The first Bath Detective Peter Diamond knows about the crime is when the victim is traced back to his city. Soon the murder inquiry becomes a joint investigation, and not just between the two forces. For the dead woman turns out to be a top psychologist and crime profiler.
