Autumn clouds are drawing in over the village of Askham, at the edge of
the picturesque Lake District, and mourners, including Simmy Henderson,
are heading to the funeral of Humphrey Craig. Taking a quiet moment
later to visit the grave and admire the flowers with her florist's eye,
Simmy meets two women: Lindsay Wilson, an academic writing a thesis on
Charles Dickens, and ninety-year-old matriarch Pauline Parsons.
Just twenty-four hours later, Mrs Parsons is found dead on Askham Fell,
and Simmy faces questioning at Penrith police station. An accusation has
been made, but if Simmy is to avoid arrest for a murder she did not
commit, she will have to uncover the killer herself.