Historian Daniel Kind is finding winter in the Lake District tough, especially as he fears that his girlfriend Miranda may just up and leave. She wouldn't be the first. Years ago, Emma Bestwick left and never came back, her disappearance never resolved, much to the chagrin of DCI Hannah Scarlett, head of the local Cold Case Review Team.

Daniel Kind''s relationship with Miranda is on the rocks. After the bright lights of London, Miranda feels isolated in the Lake District and Daniel fears that she will just up and leave. And Miranda wouldn''t be the first: ten years ago Emma Bestwick left her cottage and never returned. Her disappearance went unaccounted for, much to the chagrin of DCI Hannah Scarlett, head of the local Cold Case Review Team.But in a small, rural community, someone is bound to know something. And that someone has recently started calling the local newspaper and dropping hints about Emma''s death. With the case reopened, Hannah and Daniel are drawn together again, and discover to their cost that one person will preserve the secrets of the past at any price.