DCI Vera Stanhope investigates when two young people are both killed in the same way - placed in water and surrounded by flowers.

After a woman commits suicide, evidence comes to light exonerating her for a murder 11 years before. DCI Vera Stanhope investigates.

When a woman is murdered in the remote Northumbrian countryside, Vera is led back to a place from her past.

Vera rescues a boy from a pond after he escapes from a violent attack which left his mother dead. Does the key to the murder lie in his memory?

Vera's reunion with her first-ever sergeant, Stuart Macken, occurs under tragic circumstances when his house is petrol-bombed. Stuart is badly burnt by the attack and his 18-year-old daughter Stella is left fighting for her life in intensive care. Vera's investigation then uncovers some unpleasant revelations.

Vera investigates the case of a murdered social worked named Jenny Lister, who was universally considered to have been principled and popular. However, in an overworked and understaffed social work system, a notorious case involving the death of a child seems to hold the key to solving the killing. As Vera pursues the truth, she discovers the real secret at the heart of Jenny's death.