DCI Barnaby and DS Jones investigate the murder of Sonia Woodley, owner of a local bespoke tailoring business, who is found dead in the churchyard at Milton Cross. Sonia's unusual wounds perplex Dr. Bullard and Barnaby finds himself investigating a village living under a cloud of fear, grief, and guilt.

On a dark night in the village of March Magna, Joyce Barnaby narrowly misses hitting a shadowy figure in the road with her car. But the next day a body is found in the old cemetery. Did Joyce hit someone after all or was the victim, who seems to have plenty of enemies, killed by one of the villagers? DCI Barnaby and DS Jones have their work cut out as all the villagers seem to be hiding something – but is it murder?