Ellis and her assistant DS Harper find themselves in the tiny village of Ashenham, where the body of a local businessman and philanthropist has been found. The victim was a beloved local figure but his plans to launch a prison release work scheme had caused outrage, with many locals angered by the thought of criminals integrating into their idyllic community. Before long, the local officers narrow in on a prime suspect and briing the case to a close - but Ellis is not convinced and continues to dig.

The passing of businessman Peter Barron continues to cast a lingering shadow over Ashenham. With most leads exhausted, the case threatens to stall completely, and the truth seems further away than ever. Just as Ellis and Harper find themselves at a critical stage in the investigation, the sudden disappearance of a local boy ignites a new urgency, pulling Ellis and Harper back into a desperate search that suggests the answers they seek may still be within reach.

The village of Elmsly is shaken when university student Abi Marshall is found crushed beneath fallen scaffolding at a local construction firm. The company owner calls it a tragic accident, eager to shield his business from bad press - but Ellis is not convinced, especially as the camera that would have recorded the incident was switched off. They soon discover that Abi had been conducting an investigation of her own, into the building business itself. But what did she know - and why was it enough to get herhuged?

Shock revelations surrounding Abi Marshall's passing send tremors through Elmsly as Ellis and Harper push further into the case. What began as a tragedy on a stoneworks site now casts a far darker shadow - and just when the trail seems to be cooling, the discovery of a missing person breathes new urgency into the investigation.