Sharon Shoesmith was Director of Children's Services for Haringey in 2007 at the time of the death of Peter Connelly, also known as 'Baby P'. In this book, she undertakes a critical and measured exploration of the events which took place in the aftermath. Drawing on psychosocial and psychoanalytic theory, she examines the social, cultural, historical and political influences in place when Peter Connelly died as a result of familial child homicide. She examines the deep complexity of public and professional responses to such horrifying cases. She provides a meticulous account of the actions and events as they took place, how the reporting of the case developed, and the psychological and emotional dimensions of the interactions between politicians, journalists, professionals and the public. The events following the death of Peter Connelly have had a huge impact on child protection and social work as a profession, and Shoesmith examines what can be learnt from his tragic death by child protection professionals, policymakers and the media.