Going wrong: As wild teenagers, Guy Curran and Leonora Chisholm believed that they were soulmates. When they meet again eight years later, Guy aims to reclaim her, no matter who stands in his way.

Harm done: Detective Chief Inspector Wexford faces growing public unrest over the release of a pedophile, an odd series of abductions, and the disappearance of a wealthy couple's daughter from her bedroom.

The fallen curtain: Abducted briefly as a boy, Richard Clayton cannot remember what happened during those few fateful hours. The mystery dogs him until he reaches the verge of manhood himself.

The lake of darkness: When Martin Urban wins nearly £2 million in the lottery, he plans to give away some of it to people in need. His plans also include the lovely, mysterious Francesca, with whom he begins an affair. But neither philanthropy nor love comes easy.

You can't be too careful: As a single woman, Della Galway values double-locked doors and a bolted gate. Security measures don't fit the lifestyle of her new flatmate, however, so Della takes extra precautions.