"July, 1921: England is suffering a heat wave and the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland, is filled with holidaymakers bird-watching and enjoying the beaches. Pilgrims also come to visit the home of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden. When the murdered body of a local man washes ashore just south of Lindisfarne, the government and the Church of England are concerned about protecting both the reputation of the Church and the sacred sites that are a destination for hundreds of pilgrims at this time of year. Upon arrival, Rutledge finds himself pulled between two coastal fishing villages, scarred by home front battles and coastal bombardment from the German Navy, where animosity towards Germany still runs high even years after the war. This, combined with a constabulary in the process of being consolidated to form a countywide police force, with local militias still wielding a great deal of power, means Rutledge must tread with care. Facing a puzzling case and a cast of locals who don't take kindly to outsiders, the newly promoted Rutledge meets one of the most challenging cases of his career. To solve it, he'll also have to confront his own demons left over from his time in the war."--