Brian Wicklow is a cultured but extremely dangerous serial killer, imprisoned for the murder of eight women. However a ninth victim, Emma Foley, was never found and inspector Eve Granger with her colleague Ajay Roychowdry are sent to interview Wicklow as to her whereabouts, having been warned that he has a razor sharp mind and will attempt to manipulate them, which he does, demanding more information than he gives. Eve's old flame, toy restorer Jake Osbourne, imprisoned for killing his wife and her lover, a policeman, shared a cell for a while with Wicklow and Eve, courting disapproval as Jake killed a police officer, uses his knowledge in her bid to outwit Wicklow. Ultimately Emma's body is located but in a sense it is as much a victory for Wicklow as for the police.