"理论是一切知识的基础，但行动可以证明一切。"——赤木刚宪，《灌篮高手》Afterherbittersweetsuccessinseriesone,KarenhasbeenpromotedtoDetectiveInspectorandseeminglygiventheauthorityshehaslongbeenfightingfor.Justasshe’sgettingintotheswingofherpowerfulnewrole,sheisassignedaninfamousunsolvedcasethatwillputherunderintensescrutiny;fromherboss,fromthemedia,andultimately,fromsinisterforcesthatwouldratherthepaststayedinthepast. The1984caseofCatrionaandAdamGranthasconfoundedinvestigatorsandintriguedthepubliclikenoother.Catriona,thecharmingyoungheiresstoavastoilfortune,andhertwoyearoldsonAdam,werebrutallykidnappedatgunpointoutsideafishandchipshopinFife.Theransomnotesthatfollowedstirredupanuncontrollablepressstorm,butwhentheculpritsfellsilent,thepolicefaltered,andCatrionaandAdamwereneverseenagain. Now,aman’sbodyhasbeendiscovered,withindisputablelinkstotheoriginalkidnap.Withthefirstpieceofevidenceindecades,KarenmustassembleanunbeatableteamalongsidehersincereandlovablesidekickDCJason‘Mint’andthebrilliant–butromanticallycomplicated–DSPhilParhatka.WiththeinternationalrenownofthekidnapandtheconstantpressurefromCatriona’sfather,SirBroderickGrant,theteamtakeonthebiggestchallengeoftheircareerstodate.AsKarendelvesdeeperintowhathappenedintheautumnof1984,politicalgrudgesandpainfulsecretsrevealthemselves,anditsoonbecomesclear…thepastisfarfromdead.