When a three-year old girl is reported missing, DCI Andy Gilchrist is assigned the case. But Gilchrist soon suspects that the child’s mother – Andrea Davis – may be responsible for her daughter’s disappearance, or worse, her murder.

The case becomes politically sensitive when Gilchrist learns that Andrea is the daughter of Dougal Davis, a former MSP who was forced to resign from Scottish Parliament after being accused of abusing his third wife. Now a powerful businessman, Davis demands Gilchrist’s removal from the case when his investigation seems to be stalling. But the case turns on its head when Gilchrist learns that a paedophile, recently released from prison, now lives in the same area as the missing child. But hours later, a body is found floating in the harbour with evidence of blunt force trauma to the head, and Gilchrist launches a murder investigation.

As pressure mounts on Gilchrist, he begins to unravel a dark family secret, a secret he believes will solve the fate of the missing child.