When an old friend invites her to a Writer of the Year party Sheila Malory feels she cannot refuse. And a week later she is thankful she made the effort, for Beth - otherwise known as Dame Elizabeth Blackmore, the eminent novelist - dies suddenly leaving Sheila as her literary executor. Among Beth's papers is an unfinished novel telling of a passionate love affair. But something about it convinces Sheila it is autobiographical. Could her friend have been living a double life?

And why are members of Beth's family behaving so oddly in their grief? After news reaches her of another sudden death Sheila starts to suspect that Beth's death was no accident . . .