The Piper was a kidnapper, plain and simple. For years he terrorised the residents of the city by threatening and taking their children. Newspaper crime reporter Scott Fleetwood followed the Piper and wasn't surprised when he started to receive letters from him. This was the kind of career making news story that could make his career. However, thoughts of his career became redundant when he received a letter saying that the Piper would release his latest victim only if the ransom money was delivered by Fleetwood. Unfortunately Scott discovered too late that he was being conned. He was not speaking to the Piper but an imposter. The FBI discovered the hoax but it was too late - the Piper killed the child.

After this event everything went quiet. The kidnappings stopped and life went back to normal. People began to forget. Years later, the Piper returns but now it is personal - he is targeting Scott's children demanding a ransom that Scott cannot possibly raise. But then a miracle seems to happen. Someone comes forward and offers to give Scott the money to free his son. Amazingly this kindly benefactor is the father of the child who was killed.

Will this payment placate the Piper or is he about to commence a new reign of terror? Will they manage to capture him before any more children die?

I loved this book. I am a fan of crime fiction anyway but despite this I would have still enjoyed it. Having read many crime thrillers I usually manage to work out "whodunit" well before the end of the story. However, although I worked out most of this one there was one twist, revealed at the end, that I did not expect. So - well done Simon Wood.

Woods excellent writing style definitely gives this book a momentum that makes you feel as though you are chasing the killer and the pace increases as the finale approaches. Absolutely fabulous!