Marian Clowes is celebrating her birthday in The Lowry Hotel, Manchester UK. The next morning her body is found in the river Irwell. She worked for a company assisting unemployed people to gain employment. Claims to a government funding body have been falsified. Marian a suspected whistle blower, is also a member of Harmony Earth, protesting against fracking for oil. Marian’s boss disappears along with the Contract Manager of FrackUK. Enigmatic sleuth the Gent becomes involved.