Peter Curtis (Ian McShane) has just been released from prison in England, his crime was manslaughter --- Now Curtis is parked on a English country road when a driver appears out of nowhere and hits and kills his dog --- The man stops and Curtis in a rage attacks him thus he dies from a heart attack --- Before dying he mutters a few words --- A stranger approaches Curtis later in the story and asks what those final words were that the dying man had muttered --- And the puzzle begins about the words that Curtis finally remembers is "high tide" and why is there so much interest --- The direction is first rate with some beautiful coastal scenery and paced very nicely this mystery unfolds with numerous characters showing up here and there