"Goodness, there's some beautiful writing here!"
January, white frost, a pitch-black orchard. The ancient ritual of 'Wassailing' begins with a torchlight procession. It ends with shotguns being fired into the trees, to scare off 'evil spirits' and revive the apple blossom.
But not every shotgun fires blanks, and next day a dead body has blossomed in the orchard.
What is the killer's motive? Why this victim? And who is sending anonymous letters to the villagers of Stockton Marsh, where Detective Inspector Batten's own Sergeant lives?
Winter closes in, but murder does not stop with the dead - it tunnels into the living too, as Batten and Sergeant Ball discover. Will their own endangered lives and relationships ever be the same?
As snow descends, the police make ready. Till another body is found...

Editorial Review
- "I've read enough books of this genre to fill a small library. I've even kept a list of my favorites. Paul Toolan's Zig Batten books just went to the top of that list."
- "The mystery, while deeply involved, should be secondary to your reading of this beautifully written novel. Paul Toolan will enthrall you with this story, told through dialog and thoughts unsaid."
- "Highly recommended. The best book of its genre I've read in years."
- "A murder mystery ripe for a TV series - bring it on!"

From the Author: The 'Killing Tree' novels can be read in series or standalone.