Synopsis

Dr. David Hunter, a renowned forensic anthropologist, is reluctantly drawn back into a chilling investigation when he's called to the remote and desolate Hebridean island of Runa. As a favor to a colleague, Hunter arrives to examine a truly gruesome find: a body, incinerated almost beyond recognition, with only the feet and a single hand remaining. Initially, the local police are convinced it's a tragic case of spontaneous human combustion, an accidental death. However, Hunter's expertise quickly leads him to a far more sinister conclusion: murder. As the isolated island community grapples with the enormity of his findings, a catastrophic storm descends, cutting off all communication and plunging Runa into darkness. Trapped and vulnerable, with a killer lurking among them, the investigation intensifies into a desperate fight for survival as the killing begins in earnest, exposing the island's dark secrets and forcing Hunter to confront the most primal aspects of human evil.

Critical Reception

"This chilling forensic thriller solidifies Simon Beckett's reputation as a master of atmospheric suspense and intricate plotting within the crime genre."

Adaptations

The Chemistry of Death (TV series)

Metadata

ISBN:9781448126699
Pages:500
Age Rating:18+

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