Tabitha Hart earns a riotous living in London, doing whatever pleases her with whichever gentleman has enough coin for her body. But in the summer of 1752, her mother urgently summons her home to the village of Netherlea and, with reluctance, she returns. Only to be greeted by the news that her mother has died in disturbing circumstances.

Tabitha is determined to discover the truth, but the superstitious villagers are wary of her and her hoity-toity London ways. Only the enigmatic Nat Starling is prepared to join Tabitha, as she sets out to uncover her mother’s killer. But as the summer draws to a close and the snow sets in, cutting off Netherlea from the outside world, Tabitha and Nat are forced to face the darkest hours of their lives. Will they survive long enough to bring the killer to justice?