The olive harvest is drawing to a close in the town of Dendra & when Hermes Diaktoros arrives for the celebratory festival he expects an indulgent day of food & wine. But as young men leap a blazing bonfire in feats of daring one of them is badly burned. Did he fall or was he pushed? Then as Hermes learns of a deep-running feud between two families one of their patriarchs dies. Determined to find out why Hermes follows a bitter trail through the olive groves to reveal a motive for murder & uncovers a dark deed brought to light by the sin of gluttony.