"Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart." Song

Granite City is in the vicinity of Aberdeen, Scotland.  The story opens with the body of a three-year-old child being found. David Reid had been strangled and murdered.  Since David had been missing for a time and was found to be dead for at least two months when his body was found, the police investigation was criticized for taking so long.

. Sgt. Logan McRae is just back on the job after being stabbed by a criminal in his last case. He's the kind of man the police assign to cases that are delicate and need to be solved quickly.  He's ordered to inform the Reid family about finding their child's body. When he does, he finds the family in distress at having been called by the press prior to their notification by the police.

McRae is working for a controlling, authoritative supervisor. Det. Inspector Inch is a large, bald man who McRae thinks looks "...like a well-dressed Buddha. Only not so friendly."  Inch also has a hobby of doing pantomine on the stage and encouraging members of his department to be sure to purchase their tickets.

Another body is found. This time it's a five year old girl. She had been killed in a different manner and authorities were baffled because no one had reported the little girl missing.

McRae is eminently believable and is the type of character that the reader comes to like and feel that if it were them, in that situation, that's how they would act. I look forward to more of the stories of Sgt. Logan McRae in the future.