A Plea of Insanity

On a late summer Monday, Doctor Claire Roget takes up her new post of clinical psychiatrist at Greatbach Secure Psychiatrist Unit in the Midlands city of Stoke on Trent. Six months ago, her predecessor Heidi Faro was brutally murdered in her office by one of the inmates, Stefan Giulio, who suffers from brain damage. As Claire is adjusting to her new job, she becomes increasingly suspicious that someone else might be involved in the murder. She finds out that Heidi Faro had put a close supervision order on Jerome Barclay, a patient with a severe psychopathic personality disorder.
Claire soon discovers how clever and manipulative Jerome Barclay can be, often taunting her with hints and allusions to Heidi's murder. When Barclay turns his attention on Kristyna Gale, another member of staff, Claire confides her suspicions to her colleague, Rolf Fairweather, a clinical psychologist, and thinks of warning Kristyna. But before she can, the nurse disappears. Claire finds herself trapped in a vulnerable position. If she speaks she could be accused of a breach of medical confidentiality. But if she keeps her suspicions silent she could be guilty of failing in her duty to protect the public against a dangerous individual. Until, that is, the charred remains of Kristyna's body are found in a burnt out car. Just the way Jerome Barclay had hinted.

Priscilla Masters lives in Shropshire, England. She works part-time in Staffordshire as a practice nurse. She is the author of numerous crime novels, including the popular Joanna Piercy series.