A lorry driver runs over a young woman in what looks like a country road. DS Bernie Duckworth is first on the scene and takes more than a passing interest on the fate of the young woman.
Duckworth also holds the lorry driver responsible for the accident even though there are no witnesses.
The girl's parents are separated. However her father takes an intense dislike to Duckworth when he turns up at the hospital wanting to know about her injuries.
It very much is a case that Duckworth has a history with the man's estranged wife and an utter dislike with the father. He even punches him.
Guilt is all about a minor detective character in the series gone out of control. Inspector Kate Longton even tells Duckworth at one point that he is finished at the force.
Yet I found the story unfocused and confused. If Duckworth is the father of the injured young woman, then he has been carrying on with her mother for a very long time. When Duckworth tells all to Longton, it is suggested that the affair has been more short term.
I am not even sure that Duckworth was even the girl's father although this is strongly implied.