Before Shetland and Vera, Ann Cleeves wrote the Inspector Ramsay series featuring a talented, brilliant detective--now in print for the first time in the US.

The youth theater cast are in their places but Gus Lynch's female lead, Gabriella, is missing--that is, until she's found in the boot of his car . . .

Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay and Sergeant Gordon Hunter are assigned to head the murder enquiry, meanwhile violence is escalating on the Starling Farm Estate as police battle to contain the latest outbreak of joyriding. Is Gabriella's death connected to the events at Starling Farm?

When another body is found, Ramsey must find the link between the investigations that could have provoked someone to kill . . . and kill again.