Set in 1919, in post-war Britain, damaged Scotland Yard policeman and former soldier Ian Rutledge is still suffering from the stress of being at war. On New Year’s Eve, he discovers a gun shell at a friend’s house that looks similar to those he saw on the battlefield, and more are turning up in odd places. When he is led from London to a small village to investigate the murder of a local policeman, he finds his stalker is still on his tail.