Members of the Shannon family have returned to the family home near Kinloch for a board meeting of Shannon International. They now own one of the richest private companies in the world and each year the annual meeting is held after Christmas. However all is not well. Apart from business problems that have emerged and conflict over who should manage the firm there is the issue of the curse placed on the family 100 years ago.
A number of brutal murders are discovered near the house. What is their association with the family? What is the significance of the Rat Stone? Are there really Druids still living in the area?
At the beginning of the book, Jim Daley has decided to retire and has only three more weeks before he leaves his job. However Superintendent Symington has been sent from Glasgow to persuade him to change his mind. DS Scott is still fighting alcohol problems. Jim Daley is back with his wife and baby son but relationship issues still need to be resolved. In this series the interaction between the characters - members of the police and inhabitants of the local community - plays an important role in the development of the story line. An additional feature in this book is the severe snow storm that has descended on the area, blocking roads and communications and hindering the police investigation.
It needs to be stressed that the increasing number of murders are graphically described but this adds emphasis to the possible supernatural sub-theme of the plot. The Rat Stone Serenade is certainly an action packed crime story.
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