It is 1321 and the folk of Tiverton are preparing for St Giles' feast under the shadow of murder. Philip Dyne has confessed and claimed sanctuary in St Peter's church but danger still lives within the community. As Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and Baliff Simon Puttock arrive at Lord Hugh de Courtenay's castle for the feast, another body is found - that of Sir Gilbert of Carlisle, an important ambassador - lying near to the decapitated figure of Dyne.
The Coroner is satisfied that Dyne killed the knight and was then murdered; Dyne was an outlaw, so he doesn't merit the law's attention, but Sir Baldwin feels too many questions are left unanswered. How could an unarmed peasant kill a trained warrior? And if he did, what happened to Sir Gilbert's horse - and money? When Baldwin and Simon are themselves viciously attacked they know that a more sinister enemy is at large. But there are so many suspects . . .
