The retired Army Intelligence Officer, Alexander de Bruin, is on holiday with his wife, family, and army friends at a beautiful manor house in the west of Ireland. He's hoping for a quiet, uneventful Christmas break. But on December 27th, a body is found. With a sudden storm cutting off Loughfarraig House from the outside world, de Bruin must take charge of the investigation. When Superintendent Muldoon finally arrives, the case has grown far more complicated: a dysfunctional family, a long-lost daughter, a suspicious change to a will, a life not well lived-and two more murders.