Mangled heads have been turning up all over Norfolk and the inhabitants of Korpunty, a remote village on the East Anglican Fens, are scared. Five murders in five weeks, all committed with a hammer, and still nobody has a clue who the psychotic killer is. Retired former DCI Ketch is an aged and dogged detective with a fondness for drink. He doesn't know it yet but he is the only one who can stop the killer.