Everyone in Cranford Falls knows the Prescott family. Not only do they run Miss Fortune's Crystal occult shop in town, but they're also known for their psychic abilities. On occasion, they're even called into service to assist the police on particularly difficult cases. All except Alex Prescott, that is. Unlike her three sisters, she's inherited none of her family's gifts. At least that was what she thought until the day the dead guy showed up in her bedroom asking for her help in solving a murder. His own.
Six months after his brother Frerin's death, Detective Thorin Durin is on a downward spiral of self-destruction until Frerin starts showing up in his apartment, claiming his death was not an unfortunate accident but was, in fact a murder. Trouble is, Frerin doesn't know who did it, so he wants Thorin to reopen the case and solve it, with Alex's help.
As they work together to find out just exactly what happened to Frerin, Alex and Thorin grow closer. Neither one knows it, but Frerin isn't just looking to solve his own murder, he's trying to help his brother cope with his loss as well, and to find happiness with the Prescott sister who's known as the quiet one...
Speech therapist Josephine Asharm has been brought into Erebor to work with Bifur, but trying to find her place among people who eye her suspiciously would be difficult enough under normal circumstances, but when Sophie finds herself caught between the king, his most trusted lieutenant, and the dwarf she's there to help? She's certain no good can come of it.
Thorin only agreed to allow Sophie to live amongst them out of a sense of duty to Bifur, who is recovering from an odd head injury (is there any other way to describe having an axe blade lodged in one's head, only to have it later dislodged during the Battle of the Five Armies?) Before the battle, he spoke only khuzdul. But since it? He's regained the ability to speak Westron-if only he could but remember any of it. As for Thorin? He's trying his damndest to ignore his own growing feelings for her, even as he is also recovering from his near fatal wounding in the same battle.
Both Sophie and Thorin are haunted by their pasts and are uncertain of their futures, but sometimes, chances must be taken...