Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James are sent to suburban Surrey to investigate the murder of a high-ranking police officer. Alastair Gilbert was bludgeoned to death in his kitchen, and the list of potential suspects is long. The man's arrogance earned him widespread enmity both in the village where he lived and in police circles. But Duncan and Gemma must put aside their personal feelings-for the victim, as well as for each other-to solve the most troubling case either has faced.