A weekend trip to a Welsh choral festival turns into a dangerous investigation when Joe Sixsmith rescues a woman from a burning house. Joe, an unconventional private investigator, finds his plans derailed as he is pulled into a complex arson case by local authorities. He must navigate a web of suspicious locals and long-buried secrets while relying on his sharp intuition to survive the weekend. The narrative maintains a brisk pace, focusing on the intersection of Joe's personal life and his professional obligations in a foreign, rural setting.

Reginald Hill is widely recognized for his ability to balance sharp wit with genuine compassion in his crime fiction. Readers often highlight the charm of Joe Sixsmith as a protagonist who defies the traditional tropes of the hard-boiled detective. The series is praised for its stylistic elegance and the author's consistent command of narrative structure. This particular entry is noted for its tight, weekend-long timeframe which adds a sense of urgency to the unfolding mystery. The work is generally regarded as a sophisticated example of the genre that rewards readers who appreciate character-driven storytelling.