Christina Finleyson's ex-husband, who left Midsomer for London years earlier, is found dead in his car in woods at the back of Christina's house. Enquiries lead to the hotel where Christina's brother Martin is head barman and where a mystery man booked in with an appointment to see Guy Sandys, editor of the glossy 'Midsomer Life' magazine. Sandys is found stabbed to death after expecting to receive an envelope and when alcoholic hotel housekeeper Eleanor Crouch voices her suspicions about the mystery guest she ends up dead in a tumble dryer. Barnaby discovers that years earlier a miscarriage of justice had been perpetrated which only now certain people are aiming to rectify and which the original criminal is anxious to keep secret,striking at the heart of Midsomer life.