MorseandLewisinvestigatethedeathofLauraPoindexter,anAmericantouristwhoispartofanexclusivetourgroupvisitingOxford.Missingfromherpersonaleffectsisherjewelry,includingtheWolvercoteTonguewhichshewasgoingtodonatetotheAshmoleanMuseum.Thepathologistdeterminesthatshediedofnaturalcauses,butMorsefeelsthere’ssomethingnotquiteright.ThemysterydeepenswhenTheodoreKemp,theAshmolean’sexpertontheWolvercoteTongue,isfounddeadandMrs.Poindexter’shusbandgoesmissing.

现在是 1970 年，随着牛津纤道上的一起谋杀案和威尼斯之旅的到来，新的一年和新的十年到来了。