Pilgrim was a secret agent who, stepping into retirement, wrote a book detailing all there is to know about forensic criminal investigation.

He's been dragged out of obscurity to investigate a horrific killing. The victim's features have been erased, her teeth are missing, her fingerprints gone: someone has performed Pilgrim's textbook murder and only he is up to the task of tracking down the perpetrator.

His investigations, though, reveal a far greater threat - a smallpox epidemic which could destroy America.

This is a stunning novel. Despite a gruesome opening, I was hooked from the very first page. It's gripping, fast-paced, intelligent, and works on many different levels. The level of detail reminds me of the Stieg Larsson trilogy and, as with those books, you delight in the density of the book because the writing is so enjoyable. You don't want the book to end, but obviously at the same time devour the pages desperate to reach the conclusion to learn the answers. It's brilliant!