In the Perigord town of St Denis, Captain Bruno Courreges is pulled from sleep by the wail of the local fire engines. A nearby barn is engulfed in flame, the surrounding fields ablaze. Everything points to arson. At the same time, a California wine maker wants to set up a huge vineyard in the valley. Despite the money this would bring in, many fear it would destroy their little town. When another outrage follows the crop burning, it looks like someone is prepared to do anything to stop the scheme - and Bruno will have to draw on all his local knowledge to get to the truth.