Wealthy, influential, master of his mill in the Yorkshire village of Bridgestead, Joshua Braithwaite is the most unlikely person to have simply disappeared. His daughter is about to marry and wants one last try to find her father. When Tabby Braithwaite turns to Kate Shackleton for help, she’s come to the right person.

Kate’s beguiling manner conceals a ruthless determination to search out the truth. If that means over-turning stones and cracking open secrets from the past, she will do it.

Kate Shackleton picks up her second professional sleuthing case when she investigates a pawn shop robbery.

Her investigation leads her to genteel Harrogate where she takes an evening off and visits the theatre. Events turn sinister when Kate stumbles across a body in a doorway and, hours later, a ransom note demands £1,000 for the safe return of the leading lady.