Cornwall 1844 On a lonely moorland farm not far from Jamaica Inn farmhand Shilly finds love in the arms of Charlotte Dymond But Charlotte has many secrets possessing powers that cause both good & ill When she's found on the moor with her throat cut Shilly is determined to find out who is responsible & so is the stranger calling himself Mr Williams who asks for Shilly's help Mr Williams has secrets too & Shilly is thrown into the bewildering new world of modern detection