A story told in two different centuries of how the wheel of time turns and old wrongs are righted. Through the wild beauty of the Sutherland countryside, sea, hills, rivers and lochs all play their part in the adventures of two couples. 16th Century runs beside modern days with links of blood tying them together.

Tubby has covered up three unrelated deaths. Or are they? Until DI 'Flick 'Fraser is told the secret of the pyramids she cannot connect the crimes and trace The Man behind the murders. Further deaths spread the investigation far from Flick's home patch.

JANE'S new house will be her refuge. Here she can lick her wounds. But she needs tenants to finance it, business types who will be out all day and, hopefully, away visiting friends at the weekends. But she gets ISI, whose truculent attitude hides the despair of lost dreams. Confined to a wheelchair after an industrial accident she contemplates suicide. After her comes MAGARET, whose calm serenity hides deep guilt that she lives while her daughter is dead. Her life is over. Then comes JULIA. whose beauty and sophistication give no clue to her background of povery and abuse. Humiliation has led to a breakdown that has robbed her of confidence. Can the four women help each other to overcome their problems? Will the house shelter them until, with mended wings, the birds can fly again?

On the slippery slope to apathy, Joanne is rescued by the arrival of Frances. Together they discover the stories hidden behind the faces of their companions and Joanne's unlikely friendship with teenage Darren re-opens the door to her first love.

It seemed an 'open and shut' case but DI Felicity Fraser felt something was wrong. What was she missing?