Insidious Intent

Psychologist Tony Hill and former detective Carol Jordan discover that misdirected anger can be fatal in this latest installment (after Splinter the Silence) of McDermid's engrossing crime series. After leaving the police and renovating her brother's barn, Carol has returned to the force to lead the Regional Major Incident Team (ReMIT). Carol and Tony are soon investigating several murders that they suspect are linked. In the north of England, a pattern emerges: female wedding guests are later found murdered in their burned-out cars. The killer's meticulous attention to detail ensures that no identifying material remains. The case quickly grinds to a halt, delighting the top brass who want ReMIT, and especially Carol, to fail. In addition, Carol struggles with how she was reinstated. DS Paula McIntyre's teenage ward discovers that the Internet can be an unforgiving place, and DC Stacey Chen continues to wield her electronic wizardry. The killer is wily, but ReMIT is tenacious. Using careful police work, the team eventually unearths the culprit, leading to a shocking denouement.