皮尔斯·奎格利

该片故事发生在英国关键历史时期，彼时英国军队攻击一大批曼彻斯特要求议会改革的抗议者，导致15人死亡，几百人受伤，引起全英震惊。英国《卫报》也受此次事件影响而诞生。亚马逊负责本片北美发行。

Morse finds himself the subject of a murder investigation when his friend, Beryl Newsome, is murdered at a rehearsal of the Magic Flute and he foolishly touches the murder weapon. Morse is suspended and DCI Bottomley, with DS Lewis assisting him, is put in charge of the case. Morse feels that he was set-up and looks to his past to see who, among the many criminals he arrested, might now be setting about seeking revenge. When someone scratches masonic symbols all over his car and he is reported for erratic driving, Morse wonders if Masons may somehow be involved. When a large number of his personal items are found in Beryl's apartment, Morse is placed under arrest.