Visiting his mother in Swansea, Evan Evans encounters a young thug who was once imprisoned for murdering Evan's father and who has been accused of another killing, but Evan is surprised by the man's believable claims of innocence.

Penny Brannigan and her business partner, Victoria Hopkirk, are absorbed with the grand opening of their new spa. Meanwhile, an American stranger, Harry Saunders, arrives in town and sweeps widow Evelyn Lloyd off her feet. Some suspect Saunders is taking advantage of Evelyn, so it's no surprise when he goes missing with a healthy chunk of Evelyn's money and is eventually found dead outside Conwy Castle.

After Matt moves to Hay-on-Wye in Wales, a boy his age who bears the same initials and was killed in a car accident many years earlier, appears to Matt.

"Local artist and amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan has been spending her summer painting the exterior and views of the once-lovely Gwrych Castle, now in a heartbreaking state of disrepair. A privately owned castellated country house of jaw dropping scale, the gorgeous house located just outside of Penny's picturesque Welsh town has been sadly neglected for decades. Penny is thrilled when she hears local Mark Baker is leading a team of enthusiastic volunteers...