When Commander Adam Dalgliesh visits Larksoken, a remote headland community on the Norfolk coast in the shadow of a nuclear power station, he expects to be engaged only in the sad business of tying up his late aunt's estate. A serial killer known as 'the Whistler' has been terrorising the area - but it isn't his case. He isn't going to get involved.

Then, not far from his aunt's home, he stumbles on a body. Unable now to keep his distance, he must navigate not only the looming weight of the power station's influential leaders but his aunt's friends and neighbours - all of whom could be suspects - if he wants to help the local police understand this latest crime. But could there really be more than one murderer here?