At the beginning of the twentieth century a female doctor was often treated with mistrust. In Margaret Dickinson's Brackenbeck, Doctor Katharine Harvey goes to the village of Brackenbeck to take over Doctor Anthony Stafford's practice, only to find the villagers resent her presence and will not acknowledge her as a fully qualified doctor.

Katharine soon learns that the villagers follow the lead of Jim Kendrick, owner of Brackenbeck quarry, and Jim doesn't like women doctors. Katherine's destiny lies in his hands. When tragedy strikes the village, Jim and the people of Brackenbeck need her help - but will they change their minds?