At first glance, Fivepenny Lanes appears to be a sleepy Hampshire village. But beneath the tranquil scenario of cream teas, thatched cottages, church bells and cries of 'Owzat! ' on summer Sundays there lie a number of disturbing, unanswered questions. Someone has decided to rid the village of certain members - and one by one the chosen victims are receiving highly personal, poison pen-letters. As a result, the revered headmistress has been announced unfit to teach and the curate has been hounded from the village. And now Mary Fitzgerald, tea shop owner, has another black eye... Only James Woodward the piano-tuner knows the answers. He's seen and heard many things that he shouldn't have over the years but has always resolved to remain a silent witness - until now.