From the publisher
A teenage boy is beaten to death with a wheel brace on Dimmock's derelict pier. The police are convinced they have the murderer, they just need a positive identification to lock him up for good. Ten years ago Neil Cochrane was the prime suspect in a series of killings but lack of evidence allowed him to walk free. The new murder fits the profile exactly and this time Detective Inspector Jack Deacon is determined he won't escape.

But the only witness is astronomer Daniel Hood, in his own way as determined a man as the detective. Compelling as the circumstantial evidence is, Daniel cannot be certain from a photograph alone that he saw Neil Cochrane on the pier and nothing anybody says - or does - will convince him to take the easy option and implicate a man without satisfying his own conscience first.

With the whole town baying for blood, the only person who understands is Brodie Farrell who once more steps in to defend her friend. Using her skills as a researcher perhaps she can unravel part of this mystery and ease Daniel's burden. But Daniel has always tried to meet his demons head on. Without Brodie's knowledge he sets out alone to stare adversity in the face...