When Gabriel Ash’s wife and kids were kidnapped four years ago by Somali pirates, his life spiraled out of control. He left his job working for the British government and moved to a small town where he descended into near madness. But with the help of his dog, Patience, and his friendship with young police officer Hazel Best, his focus returned. When he discovers that his wife is still alive, Ash is once again filled with hope and fear. Hope that he has another chance to find her and their two young sons; fear that, in trying, he may bring about their deaths.

Returning to work after an extended leave of absence, Detective Constable Hazel Best’s first task is to shadow TV historian Oliver Ford, who has arrived in Norbold to open a new museum. What should have been a routine assignment takes a decidedly dramatic turn, however, when Hazel saves Ford from a murderous attack that would appear to be an act of jihad. But why would someone fly thousands of miles to firebomb an obscure little museum in a quiet English village? Hazel can’t help but think that there’s something more to this case than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Hazel’s friend Gabriel Ash and her lodger Saturday are growing increasingly uneasy at Hazel’s developing relationship with Oliver-but neither of them can guess at the real danger that Hazel faces nor the direction from which it will come…