On the eve of the Deadloch Winter Feastival, the body of local football club coach Trent Latham is found on the beach. Local Senior Sergeant Dulcie Collins takes charge but soon Detective Eddie Redcliffe arrives from Darwin to lead the investigation causing friction.

As the Deadloch Feastival program continues despite two murders, the body of another suspect is found on the shore of the lake. Despite the victim being dead for five years, Dulcie suspects that it's linked.