DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins investigate the mysterious death of affluent party girl Nikki Pengelly. Her distraught fiancé Ralph blames Nikki's besotted ex-husband Gavin but the investigation leads the detectives to the Applejacks dating agency, run by Redmond Appleby and his wife Maxine and a back-to-school disco. Then Ralph's bitter ex-girlfriend Hazel goes missing.

DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins investigate the stabbing of respectable charity shop worker Lyn Chichester soon after hosting a dinner party with her husband Nick. They discover the pair were involved in wife-swapping (including lesbian love) – and Lyn was the star attraction among the swingers.

One of the owners of Middleford's private golf club – womaniser Charlie Egan – is found dead, in handcuffs, in the swimming pool on his raucous stag night. The old boys network interferes as DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins line up suspects including stripper Shelley Simon Weaver, Charlie's business partner and club manager Grace Bailey who was besotted with Charlie.

DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins investigate a crime of passion on millionaires' row. When Gideon Finch's charred remains are discovered in his burnt-out car the finger of suspicion points at his none-too-bothered wife Hannah. But life is never so simple. Aided by their dashing boss, they follow a trail of intrigue, jealousy and affairs.

Dowdy Helen McKee the secretary at Middleford Comprehensive, is the victim of a hit and run. DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins discover she had a big say in admissions to the popular school, so desperate parents could be responsible, or maybe it's headmaster John Stanton whose car is damaged.

Neighbour from hell Bernard Lloyd is bludgeoned to death with a hammer so DI Kate Ashurst and DS Emma Scribbins pay a visit to Cherry Meadows, the cul-de-sac which was disturbed by his non-stop DIY. Suspects include Bernard's pill-popping wife Wendy bitter pensioner Reg Thornton and Chloe and Patrick Walters who felt the victim was ruining their chances of selling their home.