A shooting incident at a private school just north of Edinburgh Two seventeen-year olds killed by an ex-Army loner who has gone off the rails As Detective Inspector John Rebus puts it, 'there's no mystery' except the why But this question takes Rebus into the heart of a shattered community Ex-army himself, Rebus becomes fascinated by the killer, and finds he is not alone Army investigators are on the scene, and won't be shaken off The killer had friends and enemies to spare - ranging from civic leaders to the local Goths - leaving behind a legacy of secrets and lies