Christmas, New York and a naked body is discovered in Central Park ... The sixth novel in the Dr Kay Scarpetta series.

A cargo ship arriving at Richmond, Virginia's Deep Water Terminal from Belgium is discovered to be transporting a locked, sealed container holding the decomposed remains of a stowaway. Scarpetta's post mortem reveals no cause of death or ID and sets her on a mission that could ruin her career.

Maura Isles deals with death. As a pathologist in downtown Boston, she has seen more than her share of corpses. But never before has the body on the medical examiner's table been her own. There can be no denying the evidence though. The dead woman is her mirror image right down to the most intimate physical details.

The sleepy town of Heartsdale is jolted into panic when Sara Linton, pediatrician and medical examiner, finds Sibyl Adams, a young college professor, horribly murdered in the local diner. Police chief Jeffrey Tolliver then finds a second victim crucified and recognises the work of a serial killer.

When medical examiner Sara Linton and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver take a trip away from the small town of Heartsdale - an escape from all the pressures which complicate their relationship - it should be a straightforward weekend at the beach. But they decide to take a detour via Jeffrey's hometown and things go violently wrong.

Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner, is faced with the disappearance of five young couples from their cars, who, when found dead months later in deeply wooded areas, are without socks and shoes. Using the latest forensic techiques, she tracks the murderer.