Book excerpt: A sea of unanswered questions. Dozens of identical shoes have washed up on the beach in the quiet resort town of Sanibel Island, Florida. They appear completely ordinary but for one thing – each contains a crudely severed human foot. Faced with an incomprehensible puzzle and ever more confusing pathology reports, the local police call on FBI Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast for his expertise. But with no answers and endless possibilities they are left with only questions: What has happened, and why? Where have the feet come from? And are the victims still alive? Soon Pendergast will find himself entrenched in one of the most complex and inexplicable challenges of his career. Praise for Preston and Child: 'Get ready for the ride of your life' DAVID BALDACCI 'Will leave you breathless' LEE CHILD 'Fast-moving, sophisticated and bursting with surprises... There's nothing else like them' WASHINGTON POST 'White-hot bestselling suspense. Simply brilliant!' LISA GARDNER