When recently retired bank investigator Clive Trent moves to the quiet Norfolk village of Whickenham Mere he expects routine, solitude, and the occasional rare bird sighting.

What he finds instead is a pattern that doesnt quite fit.

An unexpected encounter draws Clive back to an old case in York – six safe deposit boxes, emptied without trace, and someone who may not be who they claim to be.

As Clive begins to piece things together, he discovers that the truth is not only hidden it is protected.

The closer he gets, the clearer it becomes that this is not a problem confined to the past.

It is present. It is local. And it does not welcome attention.

For most of his career, Clive trusted procedure. Evidence led to reports, reports led to decisions, and decisions belonged to somebody else.

This time, there is no procedure. No report. And no one left to decide except him.

In Whickenham Mere Clive discovers some things are better left alone.

And some truths come at a cost.