L'ex editor di libri Susan Ryeland è a Creta, dove gestisce un hotel in difficoltà con il suo compagno Andreas, quando una coppia arriva e chiede a Susan di aiutarla a ritrovare la figlia scomparsa. Credono che la sua scomparsa sia collegata a un omicidio avvenuto nel loro hotel in Inghilterra e al romanzo di Alan Conway ispirato al caso.

Susan checks into the Treherne's hotel and meets Lisa, Cecily's sister and Aiden, Cecily's husband. As she investigates she learns more from the hotel night manage and spa manager, both of whom indicate that former employee Stefan was correctly found guilty in the murder of Frank Parris.

Susan decides to go to London to investigate what Alan Conway knew about the Frank Parris murder. DS Locke catches up with Susan and warns her to stay away from the case.

Susan meets with Alan's ex-partner, who tells her that Alan knew Frank quite well. He also tells Susan that Frank had a relationship with a sex worker named Leo which could be a clue.

The Endicotts reveal that Martin Webster had a motive to kill Cecily. Liam Corby tells Susan that that he knows a secret of Lisa's. Susan's sister reminds her that Andreas loves her, and what a good pair they make.

Susan and Andreas visit Stefan in prison. With help from Pünd, Susan puts the pieces together to solve the cases of both Frank Parris and Cecily.