The village school is to get a new head & the inhabitants of Turnham Malpas await her arrival with curiosity. At first sight Kate Pascoe seems ideal. She's young pretty & obviously loves her job. But when she introduces meditation classes for her ten-year-olds & even tree-hugging the villagers begin to think again. Then a strange malaise afflicts the whole village: lights are seen in Sykes Wood at night; a dog long dead appears to come to life & a sudden shocking death plunges the village into a state of superstitious dread. & always at the eye of the storm is Kate Pascoe...