When Jerry Harrison receives an unwelcome visitor at his remote Cotswold cottage one winter's night, the last thing he expects is to end up dead. But, next morning, his cleaners find him fatally stabbed and the police have a murder inquiry on their hands. At first, Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter aren't sure of the victim's identity, but it's not long before a neighbour, Eleanor Holder, comes forward with her opinions on the deceased. Jerry Harrison was not a popular man in the village of Weston St Ambrose; his aunt's tragic death led to him inheriting her cottage and many of the locals still see him as an outsider. With no witnesses coming forward and very little evidence to go on, Jess and Ian must dig deep to find the answers to this baffling case. But not before another villager is attacked and left for dead.