When a young girl is killed by a snake bite, her community in Canterbury is devastated. Delchard and Bret arrive to settle a land dispute but when clues suggest that the girl was actually murdered, the situation becomes a lot more complicated.

Edward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.