When DCI Jane Hacker learns that her mother is terminally ill, she ups sticks and returns to her hometown to care for her. She is determined to give her a good death, despite their turbulent relationship.
But no sooner is Jane back in Burnley than she gets pulled into a disturbing and dangerous case. Jane intuits that a spate of recent suicides is actually the handiwork of a devious serial killer. All of the suspects in the case are steeped in death because of their jobs - abattoir worker, hospice nurse, local priest. Is it possible that this regular exposure has made them inured to death? Or even addicted to it?
