From a very young age, Stephen Whalby has always loved the moor. As a child, he and his friend Peter Knowles would spend hours hiking and exploring. As an adult, his interest hasn't diminished. He works with his father as a furniture restorer and has been married to Lyn for the last four years. Theirs is clearly not a happy marriage however and appears to be completely devoid of any intimacy. Walking on the moor one day, Stephen comes across an attractive young woman painting; they chat and he moves on. The next day however, she is found dead, with part of her hair cut away. From the outset, DI Manciple suspects Stephen and the policeman's aggressive style - some say he is just plain rude - doesn't sit well with many of the locals who see Stephen as one of their most respected local citizens. When a second woman is found dead on the moor, Manciple redoubles his efforts to get Stephen to admit his guilt. Lyn meanwhile shows an interest in a handsome young man, Nick, who is filling in for his sick uncle at the local pet shop.
—garykmcd