'Kate felt a chill creep over her. It's not Melanie, she told herself. this isn't my child. It's just some kind of sadistic game...'

It's six months since twelve-year-old Melanie Pearson disappeared while walking home from school. Six months since her mother was asked to identify her battered body...

Kate Pearson is only just beginning to come to terms with her daughter's murder when a sinister message appears on her computer screen:

'Why did you let him hurt me, mummy?'

As more horrifying messages follow, Kate realises there is only one person who could be doing this to her - Melanie's murderer...