Oxford, 1961. As the Hughes family celebrate bonfire night, a terrible accident leaves the garden shed in flames--and father and grandfather Thomas trapped inside. Tragic though it is, Thomas's death passes without suspicion--until a local journalist makes accusations of a police cover-up in the press. WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate, and asks coroner Clement Ryder to help. But the more questions the two ask the less clear the case seems. There's no evidence of foul play, and yet the dead man's family are obviously hiding something. Then there are Thomas's dubious business practices--was someone out for revenge? All Trudy and Clement know for sure is that everyone is lying--and that they must find the truth...