Robin Ballantyne is investigating the murder of a British man in Beijing. His headless body was found in woods by an icy, fetid lake - is his death linked to a recent series of brutal attacks on women? In a city thick with paranoia and corruption, Robin struggles to separate rumour from reality.
Meanwhile, late one freezing night, Chinese private detective Song rescues a young boy from a fire on a building site. With witnesses appearing from the murky surrounds, bloody clothes on the ground but no body, and flames blazing around him, Song panics and flees - still clutching the boy.
From the smog of the capital to the poverty-stricken countryside, and from the mansions of millionaires to a disused quarry where the children of scavengers root among the rubbish, Song and Robin must unravel the truth behind the murders before they find themselves silenced - and before the killer can make another sinister move . . .
Shattering traditional preconceptions, The Pool of Unease is a gritty, fast-paced thriller that exposes the shadowy underbelly of modern China.
Catherine Sampson started her career in the BBC and has worked as Beijing correspondent for The Times. She now lives in Beijing with her husband and three children. Catherine's debut, Falling off Air, was published in 2004 to outstanding critical acclaim and the stunning sequel, Out of Mind, will be available soon in trade paperback.