Nicholas Angel is the best police officer in London; in fact, so good at his job that his peers decide to send him to the quiet village of Sandford so that he stops making them look like lesser officers. Sandford is a small town, full of seemingly friendly and cheerful residents. It's perfect, but too perfect. Paired with the foolish Danny Butterman, Nicholas discovers through a string of murders that Sandford isn't as serene as it appears.