Ashenham: Part One

When the body of Peter Barron, a respected local businessman, is discovered in the tiny village of Ashenham, shock quickly turns to suspicion. The local force is out of their depth, and ACC Leighton wastes no time in parachuting in Ellis and Harper. With her forensic eye, Ellis recognises the situation for what it is: murder. Pushing past the limited resources of the local force and resistance in the community, she's determined to unearth what really happened.

The owner of a thriving plant nursery and a well-known philanthropist whose influence reached far throughout the community; Peter was once a beloved figure. However, a recent decision to launch a prison work release scheme has caused outrage. For some, the scheme was a natural continuation of Peter's charity work, but for others, the idea of criminals integrating into their idyllic community was a step too far. And Peter, previously a unifying presence, found himself at the centre of a divided village with many wanting to see him held accountable.

With emotions running high, the inexperienced local officers are keen to narrow in on a prime suspect and bring the case to a close. But as Ellis digs deeper, she uncovers secrets closer to home: a close friend with a chequered past, a daughter paralysed with grief and an ex-flame embittered with resentment. Peter's murder brings old grudges, hidden pasts, and dangerous resentments to the surface, and the more Ellis uncovers, the more tangled the picture becomes.

In Ashenham, long held grievances simmer just beneath the surface, and Ellis is determined to drag them into the open. In the end, one question towers over Ellis' investigation: was Peter killed for his ideals, or does the answer lie in his own circle, among those who knew him best?