After a year of baffled failure, the Thames Valley Police Force's investigation into the murder of Yvonne Harrison in a quiet Cotswold village is sparked into life by an anonymous letter which gives new information. Morse, who has been off sick, is under doctor's orders to cut back on his drinking or face the consequences, but few people realize just how bad the state of his health is when he comes back to active service. Of course, Morse takes the view we would expect from him about Lewis heading the murder investigation. As always, Morse ignores his doctor's orders, and he soon collapses and finds himself in hospital, near death - and still agonizing over his last case. Morse's final order to Lewis is to send him away from his bed-side to follow the final clue which will crack the case. It seems odd for Strange, Morse's old antagonist, to be with him when he dies, and not Lewis - but Strange rises to the occasion