Lancashire Police investigate when the body of a man is found in a field. The circumstances are mysterious, part of his ear is missing, and he is discovered laid on top of his wellington boots. Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley orders a home office post-mortem to help investigate the case. And DI Paul Price must try to establish who the man is and how he died. But identifying him at all proves a huge challenge. In Preston, the coroner's team examine the case of a young woman found collapsed at home. They need to find out whether she could have deliberately harmed herself or suffered a terrible accident.

A man is found dead in the water while on holiday in Egypt with his wife. After his embalmed body is repatriated, Dr Adeley and his team must establish the facts and decipher whether snorkeling could be the cause of his death. Home office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers, with an interest in diving, investigates the case. A recovering alcoholic in her early fifties is found dead at home. To uncover the truth behind her sudden death, Dr. Adeley and his team must conduct an invasive post-mortem examination.