Oscar Blaketon is on his way home late one night when he sees strange lights around St. Michael's Church, but he is knocked down before he can investigate any further. Nothing appears to be missing, but a few days later a grave is desecrated and a human skull has been removed from it. Are there witches and black masses in Aidensfield? It seems so, because the farmer Mr. Follet is just wasting away as if he is bewitched and a voodoo doll and other signs of witchcraft are found on his farm. Greengrass is doing some gardening for Dorothea Cliveden, who is a queen in the cosmetic world. He surprises her one day with her face all covered in mud and learns, that people will pay a lot of money for mud intended for beauty care. Of course he cannot resist an opportunity like that.

Clive Formby's combine harvester has been torched and he is convinced Ken Dixon in Ashfordly is behind it. A witness saw a shady character staying at her empty neighbouring house overnight and wandering about with a fuel can. The "shady" character turns out to be the new police constable in Aidensfield after PC Crane's death. His name is Rob Walker and Oscar is not too happy about him. His father Jake was a well-known criminal and Blaketon is convinced that nothing good will ever come out of that family. Dr. Merrick is concerned about one of her patients, Gilbert Percy, and persuades Vernon Scripps to clean the old man's cottage. Percy is very fond of Shakespeare and makes Vernon read the old master's plays to him instead.