From Darkness

Now living on a Scottish island with her younger partner Norrie and their daughter former policewoman Claire Church gets a visit from her old colleague John Hind, following the discovery of two skeletons in Claire's old patch in Manchester. Hind believes these are related to an unsolved, seventeen year old case in which a serial killer murdered prostitutes and in which Claire was heavily involved before resigning. Claire makes it clear to Hind, whose apparent obsession with solving the case is annoying his wife, that she has no intention of returning to work to help …

Following evidence linking her to the fresh murder of Agota Calgys Claire returns to Manchester, to the annoyance of Norrie, who discovers that she is not taking her anti-depressants. Hind's chief suspect is dogs' home owner Roy Marsh but CCTV footage from 1999 reveals that victim Sally Fisher got into a car with Gareth Harding, who knew her, but has an alibi for Agota's murder and Claire wonders if two different killers have been at work. Whilst visiting Agota's flat Claire is assaulted by an intruder and later receives a disturbing package.

Placing Claire under witness protection Hind tells her his view that Harding - who has a stake in clearing the red light area - is the killer. However Claire believes the current murderer is a survivor of the first series of attacks, her research leading her to an ex-student called Lucy Maxley. She receives a call from a woman accusing her of offering to help in the past but lying to her. This inclines her to Hind's view that Harding is responsible but when she confronts him at his daughter's wedding Claire makes a fool of herself before making a confession to Hind.