Could his death be linked to a series of murky land deals made by his father, who disinherited a neighbour, Eric Roberts, years previously? What secrets do the mountains hold about the deaths of three German prisoners of war on Welsh soil in 1944? And what involvement does 'The Guild' - a local organisation of professional men - have in this historical jigsaw?

Tommy James, whose business is tractors, lorries and trucks, is a very prominent member of the close-knit community as are his friends; local publican Dic Rees and garage owner Gwilym Morgan. Naturally wary of strangers, the trio offer Mathias no obvious leads, but when the body is revealed to be ex teacher and traveller Michael Reynolds, whom everyone in the village seems to have had an affection for, tongues start to loosen.