When Juno Browne finds a life-sized effigy floating in the River Ashburn, a note attached claims it as the work of Cutty Dyer, Ashburton's mythical blood-drinking demon. But despite Juno's instinct that this is a sign of trouble ahead, the police dismiss her find as a practical joke. Then the body of a woman is discovered by the river, and it becomes clear that a killer has taken on Cutty's identity. As suspicion falls on someone close to her, Juno finds herself drawn into solving the mystery, desperate to prove her friend's innocence. Yet as the rain falls steadily and the level of the River Ashburn continues to rise, Juno must unmask the real identity of Cutty Dyer or risk being swept away on a murderous tide.
On the day Juno Browne's van goes up in flames and nearly cooks a dog, Juno meets James Westershall, owner of Moorworthy Chase, a large family estate. She is invited, along with her friends from Old Nick's, to bring along their goods for sale to an upcoming garden fete. Included in the invitation is the newest and most irritating member of the Old Nick's team, Gavin. During the fete, Gavin wanders off and is later discovered dead in nearby woods, apparently the victim of a bizarre accident. A police investigation ensues, but results are inconclusive, and Juno has a theory of her own. As she begins to investigate, she discovers that Gavin's is not the only strange death to have occurred at Moorworthy Chase-an expert researching colonies of rare bats in caves on the Moorworthy Estate has died as well. It soon becomes clear to Juno that there is something very wrong at Moorworthy and that the caves contain a dark and dangerous secret.
Juno Browne is a self-appointed domestic goddess. From cleaning to dog-walking to caring for the elderly, she flits around the picturesque village of Ashburton in her trusty van ready to turn her hand to anything. Despite warnings to the contrary, she ventures into the shady world of antiques dealing when she takes on a new client, Old Nick, who has a reputation for conducting business by the back door. When Juno prevents two menacing thugs from giving Nick a beating, it's clear one of his deals has gone horribly wrong-and it isn't long before Nick is found dead. As the police search for answers starts to stall, Juno begins her own investigation. But when one of her suspects is killed and Juno is herself the subject of unwanted attention, she must piece the puzzle together before she becomes the next victim.
