When two-year-old Michael Hennessey dies of a drug overdose, his mother, ex-addict, Ashley Hennessy, confesses to the crime. The whole situation doesn’t sit well with Claire Conover, the social worker assigned to the case. Claire has watched Ashley work hard to get clean over the past year and half, determined to regain custody of her small son. Claire doesn’t believe the young mother relapsed and is sure that Ashley is lying about the drugs. While everyone else accepts the situation at face value, Claire sets out to find the truth, leading her from Birmingham’s slums to the high echelons of society. But someone is determined to end Claire’s investigation - and with it her life.

Little Lamb Lost is Margaret Fenton’s first novel. A social worker herself, Fenton has always been a fan of works of mystery and decided to write one herself. Obviously she also has a penchant for fashion as superfluous descriptions of clothing are scattered throughout. Even so, this is one mystery you won’t want to put down, red herrings and all.

Protagonist Claire Conover has the makings of a delightfully interesting serial character; unlike the lamb, let’s hope Fenton’s talents aren’t lost in the making of only one novel.