Ellis 2x1 - Ashenham: Part One

When the body of Peter Barron, a respected local businessman,is discovered in the tiny village of Ashenham, shock quicklyturns to suspicion. The local force is out of their depth, andACC Leighton wastes no time in parachuting in Ellis and Harper.With her forensic eye, Ellis recognises the situation for whatit is: murder. Pushing past the limited resources of the localforce and resistance in the community, she's determined tounearth what really happened.

The owner of a thriving plantnursery and a well-known philanthropist whose influence reachedfar throughout the community; Peter was once a beloved figure.However, a recent decision to launch a prison work releasescheme has caused outrage. For some, the scheme was a naturalcontinuation of Peter's charity work, but for others, theidea of criminals integrating into their idyllic community wasa step too far. And Peter, previously a unifying presence,found himself at the centre of a divided village with manywanting to see him held accountable.

With emotions runninghigh, the inexperienced local officers are keen to narrow inon a prime suspect and bring the case to a close. But as Ellisdigs deeper, she uncovers secrets closer to home: a closefriend with a chequered past, a daughter paralysed with griefand an ex-flame embittered with resentment. Peter's murderbrings old grudges, hidden pasts, and dangerous resentmentsto the surface, and the more Ellis uncovers, the more tangledthe picture becomes.

In Ashenham, long held grievancessimmer just beneath the surface, and Ellis is determined todrag them into the open. In the end, one question towers overEllis' investigation: was Peter killed for his ideals, or doesthe answer lie in his own circle, among those who knew himbest?