A touch of mortality

the long version

When Sally Caswell persuaded her scientist husband, Liam, to move from London to the quiet of rural Oxfordshire, she had hoped they might enjoy a more peaceful existence. But so far the move has led to nothing but discord. Morose, frustrated, and isolated, Liam, whose sabbatical book project is not going well, quarrels incessantly with their next-door neighbor, the crotchety pensioner Bodicote whose unruly goats provide a constant source of contention. And when he's not arguing with Bodicote, Liam seems to vent his unhappiness on Sally herself. But then a mysterious package arrives that gives the couple real cause for anxiety. It appears that Liam, whose previous research involved beagles, is being targeted by animal rights activists. But Chief Inspector Markby, the officer in charge of the investigation, is not entirely convinced. Liam has many enemies, Bodicote among them, and it seems to Markby that Liam's cantankerous old neighbor is hiding something. The more Markby investigates, the more his unease grows - as does that of Meredith Mitchell, Markby's girlfriend and an old friend of Sally Caswell, for Meredith suspects Sally is far from well. Then a body is found.