Part 1 of the Chronicles of Dorro series
Thimble Down is a village where death and malice lurk the otherwise quiet lanes. When the vile, seedy Bing Rumple acquires a gem-laden treasure, violence starts to follow him everywhere. Where did Bing find such a precious jewel, and worse, is someone willing to kill for it? In this fast-paced adventure, the village book master, Mr. Dorro, and his young companions Wyll Underfoot and Cheeryup Tunbridge are in a desperate race to find the answer ... before death returns to Thimble Down.