Summer is coming to the North Yorkshire moors.

And it’s time for the folk of Aidensfield to partake in an ancient tradition known as “beating the bounds”. On this day, Constable Nick leads a motley procession of villagers round the parish boundaries, beating the ground with sticks as they go.

But some boundaries are made to be broken. Especially in the line of duty.

Constable Nick may be happy to bend the rules on occasion, when faced with a tardy bride, a missing cat or a pair of warring neighbours.

But a human skull — found on the lonely moors above the village — is another matter, and in this case, Nick must play exactly by the book.

Can Constable Nick piece together the mystery of the stranger’s death?

The brilliantly entertaining and heartwarming books behind the hit 90s TV series Heartbeat. One of the top ten most watched shows of the decade.