When noted feminist writer and speaker Clare Abbott is poisoned after a debate at Cambridge University, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers has the chance she needs to redeem herself with her superior officers. Barbara desperately needs this chance after skipping out on her job to go to Italy in aid of friends, after using a tabloid to manipulate New Scotland Yard, after heading out on her own to hire a sly private investigator. The result of this has been a forced signature on paperwork 'requesting' a transfer. So Barbara needs a case to get herself back onto the right track.With DI Lynley working the case in London and DS Winston Nkata working with Barbara in Dorset, suspects emerge and a twisted personality behind a ruthless killing is revealed.