When Tansy Robotham called in to see hairdresser Sandy Prentice that autumn afternoon, the last thing she expected to find was her friend's long-dead body lying in the middle of the conservatory. Shocked and terrified by the evidence of decay, and by the horrific way Sandy had been killed, Tansy ran from the house screaming for help. So, for the recently transferred DCI Roger Hayes, this is the beginning of a lengthy investigation - not quite the welcome he had expected from the quiet little village of Newton Greys, but the perfect opportunity to prove himself. First though, he must discover the real story behind Sandy's busy working and social lives, and finding her diary seems like just the breakthrough he needs. Soon DCI Hayes realizes that all is not quite as it seems in the peaceful Oxfordshire village, and finding the murderer is far from easy.