Old Tom has died, and though Jess is sad that her beloved Grandfather had to leave her so soon, she is comforted by the memories he shared with her in the last few weeks before the Old Black Dog of Fenland Folklore came to take him away.

But Jess has a feeling that Old Tom has one more story to tell, an that there may be other secrets waiting to be revealed before winter falls on the mysterious, watery landscape that surrounds the village of Fens End and the icy waters of the Lode begin to freeze over.