Stolen. Missing. Dead... Forensic psychologist Paul Maguire is up against the clock to stop a merciless killer in THE DEAD GROUND , the second novel in the highly acclaimed Paula Maguire series and the gripping follow up to The Lost. Claire McGowan's thrillers are sure to enthral readers of Michael Connelly and Karin Slaughter 'Fresh and accessible without ever compromising on grit or suspense' - Erin Kelly Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire, already wrestling with the hardest decision of her life, is forced to put her own problems on hold when she's asked to help find a baby taken from a local hospital. Then the brutal, ritualistic murder of a woman found lying on a remote stone circle indicates a connection to the kidnapping and Paula knows that they will have to move fast if they are to find the person responsible. When another child is taken and a pregnant woman goes missing, Paula finds herself caught up in a deadly hunt for a killer determined to leave no trace, and discovers every decision she makes really is a matter of life and death... What readers are saying about The Dead Ground : 'Another gripping page-turner from a fabulous writer! ' ' Every time you think you've got it all worked out there will be another twist to it . Definitely worth reading' 'A powerful read that touched nicely on women's rights and pro-choice in an Irish context . Cleverly done ; I felt a great deal of empathy for all concerned. An excellent read ' Fast paced and engaging― Evening Echo Enthralling . . . evoked wonderfully― Sunday Mirror It's a gripping and gory read and shows McGowan to be a thriller writer of exceptional talent ― Irish Independent A knockout new talent― Lee Child McGowan's book is bloody and brilliant ― Angela Clarke Ireland's answer to Ruth Rendell― Ken Bruen Astonishing, powerful and immensely satisfying― Peter James A compelling and flawless thriller― SJ Bolton Page-turning― Guardian Claire McGowan grew up in a small village in Northern Ireland. After a degree in English and French from Oxford University, and time spent living in China and France, she moved to London and works in the charity sector and also teaches creative writing.