Owen Thorne falls off the roof of a multi-storey car park whilst picking up his daughter from her school prom. It looks like a case of foul play but his wife Ellie insists he was a good man and loving father to their children who they are in the middle of adopting.
The central character is Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. Who is obsessive about her work and driven by her own demons. If she's lonely she doesn't show it and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage. Her trusted and long suffering colleague is Sergeant Joe Ashworth. Together they approach every new case with unparalleled gusto and professionalism.