Duncan Kincaid has planned for some time to take Gemma, Kit and Toby to visit his family in Cheshire. But their visit is marred when, on Christmas Eve, Duncan's sister Juliet discovers the mummified body of an infant.

The shocking event brings Jules to recount the story of Peter - a schoolmate of Lally's who died recently, drowned in a canal in an alcohol related accident. Meanwhile, on her narrowboat, Annie Lebow prepares for Christmas alone. She thinks about her meeting earlier in the day with the Wain family, clients from six years before, when she worked for child protective services, before her resignation and self-imposed isolation...

As the police make their enquiries, Duncan discovers that life in the lovely market town of his childhood is far from idyllic.