Twenty years later Ryan returns to Knocknaree as a homicide detective. He had been sent away to school in England.   He still has no recollection of any events from the time he entered the woods until he was found.  He has dropped his first name, and at this late date no one knows his history except his partner, Cassie Maddox.

When the body of Katy Devlin, a 12 year old girl, is found murdered at the local archaeological digs, Ryan and Maddox are assigned the investigation.  They probe into the troubled Devlin family wondering if there is a connection between the murder and Katy's father's involvement in trying to change the path of a proposed motorway which would cover the archaeological dig.  There are similarities between the murder and the disappearance 20 years ago.  Ryan has fleeting stirs of memories of that past and will perhaps find the truth of what happened.

In the Woods is a provocative story of not one but two mysteries. The police procedure is followed painstakingly in their pursuit of the truth.  The plot is intricately constructed with memorable characters. The interaction between the partners, Ryan and Maddox, is excellent. The characters are realistic with real human flaws.   The language itself is elegant.  It is almost worth reading In the Woods just to appreciate the style of writing.  The descriptions of the Irish country successfully evokes the spirit of the place and people.