In the mystical landscape surrounding Stonehenge, where ancient and modern worlds collide, archaeological excavation becomes a crime scene when workers unearth more than ancient artifacts. Beneath layers of prehistoric remains in a Bronze Age burial mound lies a freshly murdered body—the brother of Salisbury’s respected mayor, Clive Grantley.

Detective Inspector Keith Tremayne immediately questions the killer’s macabre choice of burial location. Was this hasty disposal or deliberately symbolic? Evidence points with suspicious convenience toward Mayor Grantley himself, the victim’s only surviving sibling and beneficiary of both his political position and substantial estate.

While Tremayne follows obvious leads, Sergeant Clare Yarwood senses something amiss in the too-perfect narrative. Her methodical investigation reveals inconsistencies others overlook: timing discrepancies, witness statements that don’t align, and forensic evidence raising more questions than answers. She finds herself navigating complicated territory—professionally as she challenges the prevailing theory, and personally as unwelcome feelings complicate her objectivity.

The iconic silhouette of Stonehenge looms over the case. Each archaeological layer peeled back reveals prehistoric secrets and a calculated contemporary crime echoing ancient practices with disturbing precision.

As media attention intensifies and pressure mounts from powerful figures wanting a swift resolution, Tremayne and Yarwood discover long-buried secrets within Salisbury’s prominent families—secrets worth killing to protect.