A badly burned body - male, presumed local. And then another charred corpse. Related? Crimes of passion or revenge? Family feud? Possibly the latter, but neither of the children seem likely perpetrators, even though son Gregory, with a cast-iron alibi, is a chilling piece of work. Set as usual in and around York, Hennessey and Yellich investigate the private and business lives of the deceased but throw up little hard evidence.

And Detective Chief Inspector Hennessey's gut feeling as to the identity of the killer, based on years of experience and intuition, is shaken when another burned body is discovered. And then another. Is this the work of a serial killer and can two honest and hardworking policeman unearth enough clues to prevent a further tragedy?