Rosie Tiniswood tries to kill herself, but is rescued by Kate Rowan at the last minute. Not that she is grateful though. In fact she blames the world of everything and claims that her husband is in jail for something he did not do. Oddly enough Rowan believes her story and looks into the case much to sergeant Blaketon's displeasure. Rowan especially wonders why his predecessor legendary Rowley Carsons retired after immediately after the case though still in his forties and his file has gone missing. PC Phil Bellamy is getting married, but is seriously assaulted during his bachelor party at the Aidensfield Arms. Luckily Gina and Greengrass got a good look at the assailant.

There has been a series of bank robberies all over North Riding, and the manager of the Northern Provincial is convinced his bank is next. He has spotted a mysterious woman hanging about for a couple of days. PC Rowan and PC Bellamy follow her to her hotel after another observation trip, but shortly after the mysterious woman moves in at the Aidensfield Arms. Phil is arranging a talent competition for his football club, and Greengrass is counting on making a kill taking bets on the outcome. To improve his good fortune he persuades Gina to get some of her friends from Liverpool to enter.

The police in Ashfordly have been asked to look out for Stevie Walsh who has been released from prison after serving a ten year sentence for armed robbery. His wife Ellen still lives in Aidensfield and it is believed he will go there to collect the money from the robbery which has never been recovered. But a severe snow storm is brewing and in the bad weather the train carrying Walsh, Gina's cousin Barry and Dr. Ferrenby crashes near the station in Aidensfield, and everybody has to lend a hand in the emergency. To complicate matters Ellen Walsh is pregnant with her new boyfriend and Kate Rowan is out in storm trying to deliver the baby, and she knows nothing about the train crash.

Christmas is near and Kate Rowan has arranged that Danny Parkin, who is very ill, gets home from hospital during the holidays. A trip to a sanatorium in Switzerland will do wonders for him and to earn money for the trip his siblings "borrows" Christmas trees from Lady Whitly's estate in order to sell them. The snobby, but very attractive Lady Whitly shows a lot of affection for PC Rowan, who is sent to investigate, and she is also involved in the local Christmas charity concert. The same concert needs a Santa Claus and a reluctant Greengrass is hired for the job. Not surprisingly he tries to make money on the deal. And speaking of Greengrass, somebody has nicked his lorry!

Ronald Headley is found dead in the river and PC Bellamy is excluded from the investigation when it turns out that his wife Debbie may be involved. Headley was a bank manager who got into prison for embezzlement, and in his wallet the police find photos of the assistant manager of his old bank, Sheryl Cooper. The case leads to Phil discovering that Debbie has a drinking problem. Aunt Peggy is far from happy when a group of squatters makes camp at David's and her farm and demands police action, but she has come to an understanding with them when PC Younger arrives. Counsellor Jowett is not prepared to leave it like that.