He has his doubts about the efficacy of drug ops in Lafferton, but Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler gets involved when the body of a 22-year-old is found in neighboring Starley. Soon Serrailler finds that an elaborate drug operation is moving narcotics from the cities to villages, using vulnerable local kids as foot soldiers. It's a harsh winter, and in this 11th case (after The Benefit of Hindsight), DCS Serrailler soon learns that even the familiar can hold shocking surprises.