A savage murderer is on the loose in the town of Castlecombe, and battlesore police inspector Frank Spence is brought out of retirement to lead enquiries. The victim is a strikingly handsome young soldier, recently discharged after having served in Iraq. It soon emerges the young man's new home had become a secret love nest for him and some of the young wives in the neighborhood, creating murderous anger and jealousy among the locals. With few clues and little DNA evidence, the inspector seems to be stumped. However, the theft of the priceless Persian Salamander jewel, a WPC insisting the investigation is being aided by a dead policeman, a character called Marmalade Mary, and a thief with a sugar fetish all play their part, as Spence races to reveal the murderer.