The Flowers of Evil. A hot summer evening on the coast of Northumberland. Julie Armstrong had been looking forward to her first date in years. But upon her return, she is met with a horrific sight: her son Luke lies dead in the bathtub, flowers floating on the water. Shortly thereafter, the attractive trainee teacher Lily is found in the pond among the flowers - a chilling tableau. The staged murders present a puzzle for Detective Vera Stanhope and her colleague Joe Ashworth. But they know: the murderer will strike again - until the artwork of death is complete. Ann Cleeves offers a glimpse behind the facade of a village community, revealing the abysses that lie beneath.