In hope of a fresh start after being acquitted of the of his sister-in-law, Matthew Weir moves his family to Spanwater, a remote manor in the Cotswolds. But his heiress wife Catherine is unsettled in their new home, retreating into childhood memories and wandering the country lanes. Life improves when Aurelia Brett is hired to keep an eye on her, but then Catherine dies suddenly. When Dr. Tom Faithful receives the third threatening, anonymous letter, he knows it is time to call the police. His wealthy patient, Cornelia Lackland, is recovering steadily from a serious illness, diligently cared for by him, her family members and her household staff. But something is amiss in Minsterbridge. Mrs. Lackland rules her house with an iron fist, keeping granddaughters. Emma Betony is content to live out her remaining years in a home for decayed gentlewomen when she receives an urgent appeal for help from a former student. Grace Aram is running Makeways, a struggling boarding school for girls, newly located in a former nursing home in Dorset. But Grace isn t interested in Miss Betony s teaching skills she wants a trusted friend to help identify. Archy Mitfold had always loved a mystery, but he never expected to take the lead role in a thriller. Yet there was no doubt that someone was trying to kill him. First there was the narrow miss on Trumpeter's Row, where a car accelerated straight at him. Then there were the chocolates Archy received on his birthday, with an unsigned card, that made him ill.