For three years, Miranda and Ben Stanstead lived an idyllic, sunshine existence in the south of France along with close friends Chloe and Rick Gillam. Then, in a freak accident Ben is killed, and soon after Miranda loses their baby and with it, her last link with a beloved husband.
Devastated, Miranda abandons their house in Melloir and buries herself in academic research back in London, retaining only intermittent contact with the past through Chloe's letters. Helped by colleague Chris Balfour, Miranda gradually begins to cope with her grief, but when Chloe's letters suddenly dry up, she is puzzled, then concerned when Rick starts writing to her instead.
Piece by piece a different picture emerges of her closest friend: Chloe the depressive, vengeful, envious and cold-hearted woman. Can this be true? Whom should she believe? And then the terrible news: Chloe is dead, found drowned in the Gillam's swimming pool, and she, Miranda, must return to France to find out the truth ...
