Buried in a woodland grave are a mother and her child. One is alive. One is dead. DC 'Charlie' Stafford is assigned to assist with the missing persons investigation. As more pairs go missing, the pressure mounts. Leads are going cold. Suspects are identified but have they got the right person? Can Charlie stop the sadistic killer whose only wish is to punish those he deems to have committed a wrong, or will she herself unwittingly become a victim?