The second novel in Ann Grangers wonderfully atmospheric Victorian mystery series. Lizzie Martin ladys companion has been sent from London to the New Forest to comfort a young woman whose baby has tragically died. A sad enough task but things take an even darker turn when a rat-catcher is found murdered in the garden & the young woman is discovered beside the body crying & covered in blood. Not knowing where else to turn Lizzie calls upon her friend Inspector Ben Ross from Scotland Yard to solve the horrific crime.