‘If you ever talk about this, if you ever identify me to anyone, I’ll find you and kill you. Wherever you are, I’ll find you. And I will kill you.‘

Five years ago Randall Gyre was convicted of the brutal rape of a young student, Lizzie Fane, on the Isle of Wight. Handsome, rich, slick-talking, Gyre had avoided prison for years before that, despite a string of accusations from other young women, who had been sadistically raped.

Forensic psychologist Karen Taylor is sure Gyre will attack again, and this time he will probably kill. She’s prepared to stake everything – her career, her reputation – to protect Lizzie and any future victims. But Lizzie has vanished. Karen believes everyone involved in putting Gyre away could be at risk. She must warn DCI Charlie Trench – her friend, and the detective responsible for Gyre’s arrest.

Soon people who gave evidence at the trial are  murdered. Has Gyre started to kill, as Karen predicted? Has Lizzie herself turned avenging angel? Or is there someone else here, pulling the strings?

“N. J. Cooper, as Natasha Cooper, gave us an admirable series featuring the barrister Trisha Maguire. Accompanying her change of nom de plume, she introduced last year (in No Escape) an equally captivating heroine in Karen Taylor, a forensic psychologist in her thirties, living on the Isle of Wight. In Lifeblood, the handsome and persuasive Randall Gyre is a serial rapist of exceptional brutality, who several times escaped justice before being convicted of his latest rape. […] Excellent tension, and convincing psychology, especially about the power relationships between rapists and their victims.” Marcel Berlins, The Times

“One of the most accomplished crime writers in the country” Mark Billingham