As the end of 1939 rapidly approaches, Detective Inspector Rufus Stone returns to work in the aftermath of his recent injuries and immediately faces two difficult challenges - solve a spate of burglaries and find a suitable engagement ring, and ten minutes of peace and quiet, to propose to his beloved Amelie, the woman who has stolen his heart. However, all thoughts of personal happiness are forced to be put aside when a four year old girl goes missing. Leaving her family in turmoil, little Amy Sanderson has just wandered off from the local park in Long Ditton, vanishing without a trace.

Or has she?

With more to the case than originally meets the eye, Stone can only solve the mystery if he can get the family to tell the truth - to each other, as well as him…

The Magpie is the third in K. J. Frost’s Second World War detective stories, with a romantic twist, which ideally should be read in order.