Strange things are happening at Kirlby Moor. A car driver runs down a sheep when he tries to avoid a drunken hiker, Mr. Holroyd goes missing on a fishing trip to the moor and on the bus driving across the moor the conductress Hannah Davis is subjected to indecent exposure by a drunken passenger they had just picked up on the moor. But that is not the only problem for PC Rowan. Sergeant Blaketon keeps him, PC Bellamy and PC Ventress on their toes due to an upcoming inspection at the Ashfordly police station.

A stranger walks into the Aidensfield Arms and collapses. George Ward recognizes him as Dennis Parker, who left Aidensfield and his wife and daughter seven years earlier. Parker claims he has no recollection of what has happened since he went away. He only hopes to find his family. But that may not be as easy as he thinks, because Parker is wanted for embezzling his former employer of 800£ on the day he went missing. Inspired by Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" Harold Jackson approaches Greengrass and wants him to set fire to his work shop. In return the Jackson will set fire to Greengrass' barn and they both can claim the insurance money. Greengrass wants nothing to do with it, but a few nights later his barn is on fire.

A group of young offenders has got permission to do some labouring work on PC Bradley's patch with only one guard, Blenkiron. Two of the boys, Varley and Sloper, wander off during a lunch break and break into a car. Varley returns as nothing has happened, while Sloper continues and befriends the famous writer Honor Gale, who has rented a cottage in Aidensfield to start a new book. Mrs. Gale also has a very soft spot for PC Bradley and uses every opportunity to call him. The election for the Ashfordly rural district council is getting nearer, and Claude Greengrass is helping Tom Drabble with his campaign with the reluctant aide of Bernie Scripps because he needs a planning permission for his latest scheme. Another reason is that Drabble's rival candidate is Oscar Blaketon.