Ballarat Hospital's only female doctor is found hanged at the hospital in an apparent suicide. If Blake can prove it isn't suicide there are several potential suspects, not least the hospital's untrustworthy chief surgeon Geoffrey Nicholson, a close friend of town bigwig Patrick Tyneman. Blake's antipathy towards both leads him to some seemingly obvious conclusions - but has he gone too far this time? Meanwhile, a telegram arrives for Blake with some news about his family.