The winter solstice's fertility rite turns into a beheading during the ancient ritual sword dance. Inspector Roderick Alleyn must penetrate not only the mysteries of folklore but also the secrets and sins of an eccentric group, including asurly blacksmith, a domineering dowager, and a not-so-simple village idiot. The inspector must step carefully to keep his head! 19th in the series. "May's narration soars."—AudioFile