No one notices Alice Sedgewick — the meekest of middle-aged housewives — sitting quietly amid the chaos of Shrewsbury A&E. Clutching a small pink bundle close to her chest and crooning a lullaby that only she can hear . . .

The baby in her arms remains eerily silent. Because he is already dead. Five years dead, at least.

One look at his tiny, mummified corpse and Coroner Martha Gunn can see that his life was cut short mere minutes after it began.

Martha won’t rest until she uncovers the truth behind his tragic death. But she’s got her work cut out.

Alice brought the poor infant to hospital. But she can’t — or won’t — remember the journey there. Let alone how ‘little Poppy’ came to be in her care at all.

She meets every question with dreamy eyes and a vacant stare. Until the police mention her husband — and her calm façade starts to crumble.

What secrets hide behind the doors of the Sedgewicks’ elegant Georgian home?

Martha thinks she’s seen the worst of humanity. But nothing could prepare her for the shocking truth . . .

Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Aline Templeton, Silent Witness and Patricia Cornwell, this fiendishly twisty and atmospheric crime thriller is sure to keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Please note, this book was previously published as Frozen Charlotte.