As a catastrophic virus devastates the Scottish countryside, killing cattle and destroying lives, Detective Inspector Marjory Fleming finds herself at the stormy heart of a troubled, trapped community. Infected animals are burnt, but the all-pervasive strength of death develops a horrifying edge when human remains are dug up near the town of Kirkluce. A missing girl and a mysterious family's obsession with bull running provide a sinister backdrop to DI Fleming's first murder investigation.