Devastated by the shocking news that an old school- friend, Suzy Palmer, faces execution in Louisiana for the murder of her children, London rabbi, Deborah Hirsch, enlists the aid of her former classmates in an attempt to get her off. She can't be anything but innocent; the Suzy they've known and loved all these years could never hurt a fly. They first met at school at the age of eleven and formed an eduring friendship. As adults they all have high-powered careers - Lisa Maguire, the eminent QC, streetwise daughter of an Irish cop; Helen Kruger, the Harvard anthropologist, always an ardent feminist, now living with her step-family in Cape Town; and Olivia Fernshaw, actress and mimic, only allowed into their group when poor Miranda dropped out. Aided by Miss Holbrook, Suzy's former art teacher, and Markus, the German jazz musician who is Lisa's latest flame, the friends unite to prove Suzy's innocence. Back and forth across thirty years they slowly piece together what happened. And even more shocking than Suzy's plight is the knowledge that one of their number has betrayed her.