Throughout the 60s, Northumberland coal mining was decimated as competition from oil, gas, cheap imports and nuclear power led to the closure of dozens of collieries. Burnsend is potentially one such community. Once a thriving colliery town, the future of the town's pit hangs in the balance as the coal board consider closing it. The mysterious death of the union leader in the mine leads Gently and Bacchus to explore the tensions and relationships in the community. They encounter families driven by politics and caught in grudges that date back to the Second World War.