Wednesday's Child is the sixth novel in Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, following on from Past Reason Hated.
When two social workers, investigating reports of child abuse, appear at Brenda Scupham's door, her fear of authority leads her to comply meekly with their requests. Even when they say that they must take her seven-year old daughter Gemma away for tests . . .
It is only when they fail to return Gemma the following day that Brenda realizes something has gone terribly wrong.
At the same time, Banks is investigating a particularly unpleasant murder at the site of an abandoned mine. Gradually, the leads in the two cases converge, guiding Banks to one of the most truly terrifying criminals he will ever meet . . .
Wednesday's Child is followed by the seventh book in this Yorkshire-based crime series, Dry Bones That Dream.