Tour guide Gavin Meadows was shepherding another batch of tourists through the historical highlights of Liverpool when his father Deryck interrupted the routine, interjecting additional information and being a distraction.
For years, Deryck has been researching Liverpool's history including the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the old buildings and trendy shops. Shortly after sharing some seemingly deranged ideas with Gavin, Deryck vanished. At first Gavin isn't all that concerned but as days go by, he begins worrying about his father's sanity and safety.
As history and his father's bizarre theories combine, Gavin begins seeing strange beings in the shadows seemingly dogging his footsteps. A steady stream of text messages from Deryck lead Gavin to believe his father is still alive somewhere.
After reporting a body that unaccountably disappeared before the police arrive, Gavin's credibility is as dubious as his father's so the authorities have little interest in following up on the missing person report. The lines between reality, memory and myth start blurring, leading Gavin to wonder if he too is sliding into madness.
Legend and theories about Jack the Ripper are brought into this dark tale that explores a less savory part of Liverpool as well as the lines between sanity and madness, reality and myth. Tying Jack the Ripper into the story was not as effective as one could hope but overall, this is a satisfyingly chilly read, just what readers expect of Campbell.
