What should have been a blissful retirement for former DCI Henry Christie turns into something deadly.

As Henry Christie settles into a new life running The Tawny Owl pub with his fiancee Alison, their rural idyll is disrupted by a violent intruder. After Henry foils a kidnap attempt on Alison's daughter, it becomes clear that he and his family have become the targets of a ruthless professional killer. But who - and why?

At the same time, Henry witnesses the murder of a local multi-millionaire - and unwittingly steps into a conspiracy at the highest level.

Pursued by a team of determined assassins, Henry must also defend himself against an unhinged killer on a personal vendetta who will stop at nothing to take back what he believes is rightfully his ... bad blood will flow.