BarnabyandDSScottinvestigatethemurderofPatrickPennyman,anundertakerinthevillageofFletcher'sCross.Theman'swifethinkshecommittedsuicidebutthepathologistdetermineshewaskilled.Themandiedsoonafterhisreturnhomeafterattendingaserviceatthelocalspiritualistchurch,itselfthesourceofsomecontroversyinthevillage.Astheinvestigationprogresses,thepolicelearnthatPennymanwasgenerallydisliked.Formeremployees,businesspartnersandothersallhadagrudgeagainsthimofonesortoranother.BarnabybelievestheheadoftheSpiritualistchurchtobeacharlatanandwhilethereisalinktotheeverincreasingnumberofmurdervictims,thesolutiontothecrimesistobefoundinanillicitloveaffair.