Rendell easily outdistances most mystery writers with her complex characters and her poetic, yet astringent, style. Inspector Wexford returns in his most surprising case yet. "He had kept silent because he knew no one would believe him. None of it could be proved, not the stalking, not the stares or the conspiratorial smiles, not the killings, not any of the signs Targo had made because he knew Wexford knew and could do nothing about it."