In 1999, newspaper editor Tim Brown assigns himself a sabbatical, a chance to step back from the details of running the family paper so he can delve into the richer stories beneath the smooth facade of South River, Nova Scotia. As soon as he has taken on his new task, a mystery appears almost at his feet. It involves the political elite of the area, and his client is mysteriously mysterious about the details of the case. Wintry weather, church-choir machinations, and the problem of discovering how a delver is supposed to delve further complicate Tim's job.