When nineteen year-old Rosie Whitby loses her father to consumption, she is faced with either a life of poverty or a move to Windy Edge where her estranged uncle is residing in the local rectory. Having heard that her uncle is a difficult man, Rosie is reluctant to go but with nowhere else to live, she takes the long carriage ride there only to hear about a series of horrific murders that have taken place on the moor surrounding Windy Edge—murders committed, some say, by a lunatic. But others say, the work of a creature.

With suspicions riding high amongst the locals of Edge, will Rosie discover the true identity of the killer or will she fall down amongst the victims and succumb to the cold bite of winter.