Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine

[1] On the moor west of St Ives, an artists' colony has been running on the site of a disused mine, run by the married astrologers Archer and Lina.

The latest member is the shadowy and beautiful Francine, who hopes to invest a legacy into the business.

Because of her Scorpio star sign, Archer isn't convinced, although Lina soon accepts her offer.

However, the trouble begins when Francine is found dead, killed by a deliberately blocked gas heater.

Wycliffe soon makes his presence known as a murder investigation begins, and he quickly learns that several of the creative souls assembled have justifiable reasons for not wanting the police intruding on their private affairs.