While Inspector Burden desperately tries to cope with his personal tragedy as well as console Celia Lawrence, the mother of the missing boy, DCI Wexford is convinced that he can nail the kidnapping of little John and the disappearance of Stella Rivers that he tried to solve years ago on Ivor Swan. While tightening the noose around Swan's neck Reg Wexford seems to forget the task at hand - to find little John Lawrence, and to find him alive.
—Jasper P. Morgan