Frances Cairnes begins her search for the person who killed her six-year-old son in a hit and run. DI Strangeways arrives on the Isle of Wight, hoping for a fresh start after the death of his colleague.
Having found the man she believes is responsible for the death of her son, Frances sets out to inveigle her way into his home as she plots her revenge.
Staying on as a house guest, Frances must now work out how she's going to see through her murderous plan. While Strangeways continues his own investigation into the case, he begins to question what Frances' presence on the island may mean.
As Frances becomes more embedded in the home, she makes progress with her plan-- she's found her weapon. Things heat up for DI Strangeways as he becomes ever more convinced of the possibility of foul play.
Frances looks set to exact her revenge, when an unexpected turn of events threatens to derail her plans. Having uncovered further leads into Frances' unsolved case, DI Strangeways' strategy is blindsided by a surprising discovery.
