Susan Ryeland is a successful editor--but her career is threatened when the new mystery novel by her number one author turns up with its final chapter missing. Her life is further complicated when she becomes involved in a murder.

Susan arrives in Suffolk, searching for the missing chapter and discovers that Alan Conway used everyone he knew as characters in his book, the story of a detective called Atticus Pund, set in 1955. It looks as if one of them may have murdered him.

Susan’s personal life unravels when her boyfriend, Andreas, tells her that he’s going home to Crete and he wants her to come with him. Still searching for the missing chapter and investigating Alan’s death, she receives help from an unexpected source.

In 1955, Sir Magnus Pye is buried while, in the present day, Alan Conway is also laid to rest. Characters from the novel cross over with people from real life. But which one of them is the killer?

Andreas is now the prime suspect in the murder of Alan Conway. Atticus Pund continues to help her with her investigation. At the same time, the death of Sir Magnus Pye leads him to a past tragedy.

Susan finds the missing chapter and it tells her the identity of the killer. Atticus Pund invites her on an unforgettable journey as he unravels the secrets of the past.