In May 2021, a skeleton is dug up in the grounds of Kirkdale girls' school Clayton House, resulting in DCI Harry Longbridge reopening three cold cases from the 90s and uncovering far more than he bargained for.

At the same time, ex GP and high security patient Charlotte Peterson is in a coma in Bassetlaw hospital, and it was an entrusted delegate who'd failed to complete Charlotte's kill list who put her there. Unconscious and vulnerable, Charlotte drifts back to her years at Clayton, where, with best friend Emily, a killing seed was sown, but by whom?

In 1991 Charlotte Krane was the daughter of affluent parents. Emily Rowlands was certainly not, but despite their different backgrounds they were inseparable. However, it was at Clayton their friendship became truly cemented. Cemented, inextricably linked, and completely unbreakable, because what happened at Clayton House left them no choice . . . until the betrayal.

Secrets and lies can't stay buried forever. Someone at that school planted a seed so evil it created Charlotte's psychotic personality – and someone with a link to the past knows exactly who that person is...