Dr Lucien Blake has returned from Singapore without his daughter to find that Ballarat has changed in his absence. Danny has been moved on, replaced by a new constable who isn't yet trusted by the others at the station. Police are called to the town hall to find a councillor dead at the foot of the stairs. Blake suspects foul play, but he must be careful how closely he interferes as police top brass have noted Blake's unorthodox methods and are carefully monitoring procedure at the station.

When the body of a man is found in a park, it falls to Dr Lucien Blake to use his unorthodox methods and find out not just how he died but also the man's true identity.