In the summer of 1947, Kate Herrick, widowed by the war, returns to Rose Cottage, her childhood home. A tiny thatched dwelling nestled in an idyllic country setting, Rose Cottage at first appears the picture of tranquility. But Kate soon discovers that someone has broken in; the papers that are the object of her have disappeared, and the village seethes with gossip. How harmless are her elderly neighbors, who are suspected of witchcraft? And what is behind their reports of nighttime prowlers and ghosts in the cottage garden? Determined to uncover the truth, Kate seeks the help of childhood friends and neighbors. Her quest leads her along a trail of family bitterness, jealousy and revenge- and into an exploration of her own past. Along the way she finds true happiness in her humble beginnings and discovers romance where she least expects it.