Tense and twisting, Knife Music is the story of a doctor struggling to clear his name after being accused of raping and causing the suicide of a young girl. The novel pits Ted Cogan, a 43-year-old surgeon and self-described womaniser, against Hank Madden, a handicapped veteran detective. From the outset it's not clear who is victim, as the usually-dispassionate Madden grapples with his long-suppressed prejudices and his obsession with bringing Ted Cogan to justice at any cost. It all leads up to the most stunning surprise ending since Turow's Presumed Innocent.