When art and deception collide, it takes an unusual partnership to uncover the truth.

In the charming village of Hamsley Black Cross, Sherman Holmes and John Garden's fledgling detective agency has just begun to establish itself following their success with "The Bookcase" affair. Holmes, with his flair for the dramatic and encyclopedic knowledge of detection theory, and Garden, with his practical approach and analytical mind, make an unlikely but effective team.

When the elegant Montague Gallery reports the theft of a valuable Harrington painting, Holmes sees their opportunity for a truly worthy case. But what begins as a simple art theft soon reveals a complex web of forgery, betrayal, and artistic deception spanning decades.

As Holmes and Garden navigate the sophisticated world of fine art, they discover that the missing "Village by Moonlight" is merely the visible edge of a far larger conspiracy. Their investigation leads them from village galleries to London auction houses, uncovering a bitter tale of artistic collaboration denied and recognition stolen.

With the flamboyant Holmes embracing the theatrical elements of the case and the methodical Garden uncovering crucial technical evidence, the detectives find themselves drawn into dangerous territory. When their primary suspect becomes a potential victim, they must reconsider everything they thought they knew about authenticity—in art and in life.

Aided by Garden's practical-minded mother Shirley and occasionally hindered by Holmes' troublemaking cat Colin, the detectives face their most complex case yet—one where the line between forgery and reclamation blurs, and where the truth has been painted over for far too long