When a young woman’s body is found floating in Lake Wendouree, Dr Blake can’t help digging deeper into the mystery. There is more to the case than meets the eye. Blake is certain the deceased girl - a runaway from the local reform school - was dead before she was dumped in the water. The autopsy proves his theory but finding the killer is more complicated.

On the eve of Anzac Day, Dr Blake bumps into a former British Army colleague at the police station, Major Derek Alderton. Alderton is in town, trying to track down two army deserters believed to be hiding out in the area. But before they can reminisce, Dr Blake is called to the morgue where the body of the attendant, Bert Prentice, lies with shocking injuries in a pool of blood.

When a travelling salesman dies in a single car accident on a quiet country road, Chief Superintendent Lawson labels it a drink driving case. But when Constable Parks reveals the corpse’s face was blue, Dr Blake is intrigued. Although the victim’s clothes reek of alcohol, Blake concludes that the salesman was not drunk and certainly died before the crash. But how? And why is the face blue?

When a delirious prisoner on death row tells Dr Blake he is innocent of the police shooting for which he is soon to hang, Blake is stunned – and believes him. But no-one else seems interested in uncovering the truth. Recidivist criminal Sean McBride is accused of shooting a policeman, Clive Cooper. Sealing his fate on death row, Sean originally pleaded guilty to the crime and refused to defend himself in court.

When the Begonia Festival’s head judge is found incinerated in his own glasshouse, all eyes turn to two feuding contestants. An airmail letter arrives from Singapore for Dr Blake, giving him hope about finding his missing wife and daughter whom he hasn’t seen for 17 years.

The death of a migrant factory foreman initially looks like an industrial accident. Dr Blake digs deeper, revealing a hideous string of crimes and the ugly side of post war Australia. Meanwhile, Jean receives a marriage proposal.