After the body of a missing schoolgirl called Mary is found in a shallow grave in Pinnock Woods, Gently and Bacchus find themselves being involved into the world of pop and media celebrity.

George and Bacchus investigate the suspicious passing of one of Gently's ex-snouts called China. The Coroner's says that China was a drunk vagrant who died following a fall. After George talks to the nurse who looked after him before dying, he ends up getting a very different story.