From a chance observation made by his sister, Miles Rueda, the central character of the novel, realizes that something he has seen as a child many years earlier in the village of Corby Falls was most likely a prelude to murder. Everything now points to the recently deceased Dr. Biranek, a former neighbour of the Ruedas, and a prominent township resident. Miles casually talks about this long-ago crime around a restaurant table. His story acquires legs. What follows is unexpected, then trying, then threatening. A huge bequest left by Dr. Biranek to the township hospital is endangered, the largest employer in the region is about to close its doors, Miles is almost killed in a savage attack. He fears for his and his daughter's safety. The cause and center of it all, Miles is at a loss. Slowly he reaches an ethical dead-end.

Robert Carr's professional career as an engineer was with the European Space Agency (ESA) where he worked on ExoMars, the mission to Mars. His novel is partly based upon his insider's view of that world. He lives in Toronto and Corby Falls is his third novel.