A decapitated corpse and a disconcerting admission: "I did it. I don't regret it." These elements characterize the murder of William Teys, a farmer from Keldale in Yorkshire. Everyone suspects his daughter Roberta, a shy girl who has confessed and now remains silent. No one in the village believes she could have committed such a heinous crime, not even Father Hart, who discovered the murder and heard the confession. However, the local police ignore the rumors and close the case. Thus, Father Hart goes to London to ask Scotland Yard to investigate. The request is granted, allowing the chief inspector to test an unusual pair of investigators: the aristocratic Inspector Thomas Lynley and the decidedly non-aristocratic Sergeant Barbara Havers. The two will delve into a labyrinth of lies and secrets, revealing a troubling past and long-held grudges. Every villager seems to have a motive to kill Teys, and the key to the mystery lies in the Teys household, connected to the mysterious disappearance of Roberta's mother and sister. In the end, Lynley and Barbara will uncover the truth, but along the way, they will witness violence and betrayals that will profoundly mark their lives.
