In an insular coal mining village in the Midlands, a husband, his wife and their small son have disappeared. The community- already laid low by a wide-spread, mysterious illness- seeks help from Scotland Yard's finest. Inspector Day, Sergeant Hammersmith and Dr. Kingsley are up for the challenge, and are confident they'll be headed back to London on the next morning's train. Unfortunately, this little town holds more than its share of secrets and the investigative trio might find that this case involves more than they can handle. 
 With a wonderfully creepy setting, and plenty of twists, turns and complications, I very much enjoyed this novel. Grecian has a strong sense of time and place, and easily transports readers to a dismal English countryside during the late 1800s. His well-developed main characters Day and Hammersmith are especially charming, and I loved visiting with them and getting to know more about what makes them tick, and how their partnership bonds are strengthening.