On an Antarctic research station an unpopular member of the wintering team dies shortly after mid-winter. At first it looks like an accident, but soon some of the men start to suspect otherwise. With at least four months of the winter remaining, the Station Commander is unsure how to deal with their suspicions. His main priority is the smooth running of the station and dealing with a potential murderer threatens to disrupt the social dynamics of the team. Should he seek help from headquarters or suppress news to the outside? As other members of the team slowly learn more, the conflicting evidence points to more than one of the men.
The author spent over two years in Antarctica, overwintering on two of the research stations run by the British Antarctic Survey. He worked as a Field Assistant, responsible for the safety of the scientists when travelling away from the station. His experiences and memories form the basis for this fictitious story of how potential personality clashes and unsuitable temperaments could disrupt the smooth running of an isolated community in a hostile environment.