Psychologist Dr Alex Delaware has always looked on Melissa Dickinson as one of his greatest triumphs. A terrified, tormented 7 year old when she first appeared in his LA surgery, Melissa after 2 years seems totally recovered. But 9 years later she contacts Alex again, anxious this time for her mother. Wealthy widow Gina Dickinson has problems of her own. For 2 decades she has hidden herself away from the eyes of the world - ever since a vicious acid attack destroyed the face of actress Gina Prince. Now the reclusive Gina has disappeared. And as Alex and Detective Milo Sturgis lead the search for her, they find their quest taking them out of the here and now and into a grotesque, labyrinthine private history as violent and sinister as any bad dream. How well did Alex understand Melissa? How could he have 'cured' her when he never even guessed at the evil and hatred that formed her inheritance?
