Kings Richington is an affluent, self-satisfied little town, nestling on a quiet stretch of the Thames. So when a mutilated body is found floating in the river, the influential residents close ranks and demand a discreet police cover-up. DI Jack Dawes is assigned to the case and soon upsets some powerful people but their attempts to put a stop to his intrusive enquiries are foiled when the town is shaken by more murders. The wealthy inhabitants of Kings Richington seem a model of respectability but no detective worth his salt puts much faith in outward appearances and, despite orders to the contrary, Jack is determined to penetrate the facade. What he finds exposes dark depravity within their sanctimonious world...