When Judith Frayne, wife of the charismatic crime novelist Charles Felton, discovers t at his mistress has been with him to America, and their affair is about to hit the headlines, she seeks sanctuary in a rented cottage on the south east coast of Cornwall.

Local legend holds that 'Driftwood' is haunted: relic of a forgotten age, and an unhappy love affair. Judith however, is determined to stay and restore the cottage to its Edwardian glory; much as the owner, Cameron McCauley, tries to prevent her. Enriched by its tranquil atmosphere and a new-found sense of purpose, Judith slowly pieces together the history of Driftwood's former residents.

Then, just as her resentment towards McCauley turns more to understanding, Judith is forced to confront her old life in London; to face up to her husband... and her future.