When a new landowner threatens to cut down Port Devine's much-loved ‘Raggedy Tree', her plans are met with vandalism, burglary and a protest – in the form of Niamh and Ash chaining themselves to the tree.

Detective Jo has been following orders and staying away from Louise Halbridge – until Louise's son turns up in Port Devine with a gun. When Louise grabs her son and skips town, Jo is sure that she's finally going to be able to prove that Louise is a killer. But events don't turn out as the detective is expecting.