Christmas Eve 1194. Sir John de Wolfe gratefully escapes his wife Matildas party to examine the body of a canon who has been found hanged. Suicide is suspected but it is soon apparent theres more to this case than meets the eye. As always Johns investigations are hampered by his brother-in-law Sheriff Richard de Revelle. But when a local lord is killed John begins to suspect the cases are linked & that Sir Richards reasons for delaying the investigation may be more serious than his usual acts of petty vengeance. Desperately trying to deflect Sir Richards plots against him John is soon at loggerheads with Matilda & even his mistress Nesta. But as he digs deeper he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him far more than the women in his life.. .