When an old man is killed in his dilapidated mansion, Gently and Bacchus dig deeper into the history of the former children's home and soon have their prime suspect.
Gently's investigation into the rape of a prostitute leads him to unravel how rape is handled within the police force and deal with animosity from his colleague.
After a young black girl is murdered, Gently uncovers a disturbing and malevolent racist undercurrent lurking both within the local community and his own police force.
The Newcastle police have arrested rioters as they tried to clear a slum due for demolition. The next morning, one of the protesters is discovered dead in the cells by WPC Rachel Coles.