In this gritty crime series debut, a London morgue assistant with an eye for detail and an ear for the dead investigates her mentor's murder. "Cassie Raven is a blast of fresh air, striding on to the crime scene like a punk superstar." -Sarah Hilary, author of Someone Else's Skin There's more to Cassie Raven than just her goth appearance: piercings, tattoos, a wild, dyed-black hairstyle. She worked hard to escape life on the streets and become a senior mortuary technician. Now she spends her days helping the deceased, inspecting bodies to determine the cause of death. Occasionally, they even speak, sharing fleeting hints about their final moments. Cassie's gift for listening to the dead can be a blessing, but sometimes, it's a curse . . . Years ago, Geraldine Edwards mentored Cassie and saved her life. So Cassie is shocked to now find the woman on the slab, her death presumed an accident. Cassie can't believe it, but is that simply her grief talking? Or is something more sinister at play? To get answers, Cassie begins digging through her former teacher's past. Her investigation soon leads to her butting heads with the police-and if she's not careful, it could lead to something far deadlier . . . "Spellbinding storytelling." -Val McDermid, international bestselling author "A first-rate crime novel. . . . I loved it." -Elly Griffiths, author of the Ruth Galloway series "What a wonderful creation is Cassie Raven!" -James Oswald, author of Natural Causes Perfect for fans of Tess Gerritsen, Patricia Cornwell, and Kathy Reichs

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