The protagonist is about to marry the renowned writer and infamous widower Max Midwinter, whose first wife, Rebecca, is a haunting presence throughout this book. The new wife must cope not only with the memory of Rebecca, but with Max's difficult family; meddlesome, charming, deceitful Aunt Bea; half-crazed Danny, who worships Rebecca; and the odd Midwinter children, Hermione and William. Things only get worse when a new biography of Max strongly implicates him in Rebecca's death. All of which magnifies his new wife's fear that she may be drawn inexorably into another woman's life. The convolutions of he plot, the wonderful dialogue, humour and rich character studies, combined with the suspense and breathtaking twist of the climax make this book a fascinating, unforgettable read.