September, 1145. The body of a Templar knight is discovered in the Forest of Wyre on Worcestershire's northern border, and concealed upon his person is a bloodstained document that reveals the identity of a traitor. Undersherif Hugh Bradecote, Sergeant Catchpoll and Underserjeant Walkelin must discover who the dead man was and whether his death was personal, political or an outlaw killing. They are surprised to find that the locals believe the killer to be the Raven Woman, a shape-changer, who lurks in the woods, and when they discover the identity of the dead knight, Ivo de Mitton, long ago believed to have killed his own kin, there are more questions than answers. Does the tale of the Raven Woman contain a kernel of truth? Is the suspected traitor really guilty, and if not, who gains most by his fall from grace? Ultimately, can Bradecote, Catchpoll and Walkelin see the wood from the trees and bring a killer to justice?