"Chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement. The victims have been savaged beyond recognition, and other evidence is terrifying and baffling, including a larger-than-life footprint. After one of the most frightening body retrievals of her career, Scarpetta must discover who would commit murders this savage, and why."--

Artist Rooney Gao, who believes in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate, meets Mr. Right in Jack Liu and must convince this reluctant skeptic to embrace his destiny.

Preferring nature to people, Cooper Holloway moves to a remote woodland cabin, but receives an unexpected visitor who needs his help just before Christmas.