Enjoying a week's well-earned holiday, DCI Will Casey's peace is shattered by a call from his mother. Two dead bodies have been found at the Fenland commune where his hippy parents, Moon and Star, live. On arrival, Casey learns that neither death has been reported - not surprising, when it emerges that the body of the first victim, Kris Kallender, was found lying on top of their crushed cannabis plants. The commune members need Casey to sort out their little problem without calling in the local constabulary - an expectation too far, in Casey's book. As if that's not enough, Casey is also called upon to solve a very unpleasant murder on his own patch: this time a John Doe found dead in a dark alley. With the help of his knowing sergeant, Thomas Catt and his assorted contacts, Casey must try to get to the bottom of both official and unofficial cases. Neither proves easy...