This novel plunges readers into the bleak, violent landscape of Northern England in 1974, following a young journalist who becomes obsessed with solving a series of child abductions and murders. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a dark web of corruption, violence, and collusion that stretches from the criminal underworld to the police and beyond. The protagonist's quest for truth not only puts his life in danger but also challenges his very perception of reality and morality. Set against a backdrop of social decay and political turmoil, the story is a gritty, noirish exploration of the power dynamics and societal ills of the time.

This novel is the second installment in a gripping quartet of books that delve into the gritty and dark underbelly of Yorkshire, England, during the 1970s and 1980s. Set against the backdrop of the year 1977, it intertwines the lives of a journalist and a detective as they navigate through a landscape riddled with corruption, violence, and the chilling shadow of the Yorkshire Ripper. The narrative is characterized by its intense, visceral prose and the haunting atmosphere it evokes, capturing the desperation and decay of the time. As both men become increasingly obsessed with their respective investigations, their paths cross in unexpected ways, leading to a harrowing exploration of the human capacity for evil and the quest for justice amidst widespread fear and moral ambiguity.

This novel provides a fictionalized account of the infamous 44-day period in 1974 when Brian Clough was the manager of Leeds United, a top-flight English football club. Told from Clough's perspective, the narrative alternates between his time at Leeds and his earlier successful period managing Derby County. The story explores Clough's obsessive rivalry with Don Revie, the previous manager of Leeds, and his struggles to gain the respect of the Leeds players, ultimately leading to his dismissal.