When genial amateur detective, Alistair MacTavish takes a much anticipated holiday in the South Downs, which was supposed to be a peaceful rest, he finds fate has other plans in store for him. Should he follow his instinct or dismiss his well-known imagination and its developing theory as absurd? For the missing Findlay McQuarrie, Alzheimer's may have dimmed his immediate perceptions, but not enough to stop his crucial help. Both Alistair's instinct and Findlay's limited brightness play their extraordinary and intriguing part in trying to solve a wicked crime. Once again, Robert Irvine has written a thought-provoking mystery with a fine series of surprises, twists and turns.