The Sortwell family is expecting a large inheritance from a rich aunt when she dies. The Tarver family, who lives nearby, see how the looming inheritance slowly destroys the Sortwell family. When the aunt dies at long last, the reading of the will reveals a shocking new heir, a cousin of Mrs. Tarver. The Sortwells are ruined. Can they rebuild their lives? And what about the new heir? How did she become the only beneficiary?

"A stunning masterpiece about life in Victorian England!" Rachel Summers, newspaper critic.

"The consequences of greed, poverty, gambling and alcoholism in a 19th century English town. Jennifer Victoria Church gets better and better with each book!" Thomas Mitchell, online reviewer.