As river levels fall on the Murray the Mary B’s crew is more than ready for the summer break, but on this last trip of the season Emma is also looking forward to seeing her friend Hilda and her children safely to Echuca and onto the train to Melbourne. Until she finds the children alone and Hilda’s body in the woodpile.
Emma is determined to take care of what her friend left behind but quickly learns that while even the dead have secrets, dealing with the secrets of the living is far more dangerous. What are the children hiding? And where is their father?
As the journey drags on tempers fray amid mishaps and suspicious accidents. Daniel is losing patience with the situation and with Emma as she continues to probe, concerned as much for the children’s future as she is the death of their mother.
When that concern finally brings her face to face with Hilda’s killer, has her understanding of the secret the children are keeping come too late?