With the city of Exeter ravaged by an outbreak of the 'yellow plague',
Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, must divide his time between
visiting his sick brother, William, who has been struck down by the
disease, and dealing with a series of brutal murders which appears to be
linked to a revival of heresy in the city.
When some of the cathedral canons begin a crusade against this danger to
the Church, Sir John finds himself accused of being too sympathetic to
the heretics, bringing him into conflict with the ecclesiastic
authorities. As the situation worsens, the coroner must seek sanctuary
in order to save his skin. Can he survive long enough to unmask the real
killer?