McLaren's fiancée tragically died one month ago. Trying to heal emotionally from her death, McLaren settles into a rented farmhouse in the woods near picturesque Lake Windermere, in Cumbria. But he's barely had a chance to rest when Helen, the woman in the neighboring cottage, is killed...and is discovered near his front door. Because McLaren had spent much of the previous day with her, and his snowy footprints lead to and from her house, he becomes the prime murder suspect in what the police label a frustrated romantic advance. Motives for Helen's murder are as chilling as the outdoor temperature. There's the hands-on garage mechanic who'd like to put his hands all over her, the affluent fishing guide, and Helen's former boyfriend who wanted to renew the relationship. Can McLaren find the killer before the police jail him for murder?