Inspector Morse is back on familiar territory behind closed doors of the academic world in Oxford. A body is found in the canal and the only clue to its identity points to a connection with one of the colleges. Intense rivalry for one of the most prestigious posts in the university has led to murder, but which one of the highly respected contenders is the killer?

As Morse and Lewis proceed with their investigation, they discover that beneath the tight-lipped, respectable veneer of college life, lies a cauldron of deception, corruption and ruthless ambition.