The old rundown house is slated for demolition. But when the contractor comes to assess the job, he immediately calls the police. When they arrive, they find something in the basement that even they can't believe they are seeing. In that silent, wrecked place they find symbols carved on the walls and a cage made entirely of bones. Worse, in that cage is a small boy, almost feral. He is malnourished and can't speak looking at them with pleading eyes.

The boy is removed and sent to the hospital and the case is given to DI Phil Brennan. On his team is his life partner, psychologist Marina Esposito. With Brennan's team, they try to discover who would have done this to this child and in the process they uncover a serial killer who may have been killing for decades undetected. Worse, the case affects Phil in ways he can't understand but as the case goes on it becomes clear that it has roots in his own background, the background he never knew as an adopted child. Can they find the killer before he strikes again?

This was my first read by this author and it was a good one. The sense of horror is eminent and the reader can only bear to transport themselves into the environment for short periods. The relationship between Phil and Marina is interesting and supportive and the secrets uncovered in Phil's background have echoes down through the years. This book is recommended for mystery readers.