Tom Conti

Everyone in Candleford is talking about the mysterious recluse Mr Reppington, who has been hiding himself away in the Golden Lion Hotel for months. Dorcas is fascinated by the lonely existence of Mr Reppington, so when he sends her a cipher inviting her to meet him at midnight in the hotel gardens, she is thrilled to accept. But when she questions his solitary lifestyle, he brings their rendezvous to an abrupt end. It isn't long before Daniel uncovers that he is, in fact, missing celebrated concert pianist William Bourne. The story could be a big scoop for Daniel but Laura urges him to do the decent thing and not reveal Bourne's secret.

Now back as senior scientist in the Forensic Investigations Unit, Donovan doggedly pursues a serial killer who takes pretty blonde women as his victims. He thinks he knows not only the killer, but also the next target--Sharon Page, a pub owner looking for more from Donovan than merely protection.

With Gibson's murder still unsolved, another body turns up murdered in nearly identical fashion--that of Philip White, a colleague and lover of Kate Donovan. Could the cuckolded scientist have killed White out of jealousy in a fugue state? Or is the murderer another member of the Donovan family?

The team rushes to where a plane has landed with all of its passengers and crew stricken by an unknown illness. Could it be biological terrorism?