1672. A generation after the Civil War, England is still struggling to return to normal after the bloody conflict. In the village of Spadboro, Jonathan Dymond, a cider maker who lives with his parents, has so far enjoyed a quiet and harmonious life. But the death of his uncle leads Jonathan to secrets which have lain dormant since the war. When Jonathan discovers his dying uncle's letter to his father, hinting at inheritance and revenge, he becomes determined to unravel the mystery in his family.