In the Thames Valley village of Fords Green, the Randalls, the Staffords, the Bankses, and the Turleys appear ordinary families with quite ordinary troubles. But beneath the calm surface of this pleasant community swirls a dangerous undertow of jealousy, greed, and murder. In the middle is Owen Stafford, a bright, confused teenager whose world is turned upside-down when his mother and stepfather disappear. First one corpse, then a second, less recent one is discovered. Suspects include a scorned ex-husband, a harsh local police officer, a young boy, and possibly other residents. Called in to investigate, Yeadings soon realizes that appearances are quite deceiving.