The story revolves around Joanna Mansfield, the wife of a successful publisher, Howard Mansfield.  For quite some time, Joanna has been acting rather strangely and her neurosis, paranoia and general jumpiness are beginning to cause Howard concern.

A series of bizarre events, including her handbag being stolen during a mugging then being left outside the couple’s front door with contents fully intact, lead up to Howard returning home one evening to find that Joanna has shot Perry Kingsley, the husband of her best friend, Grace.  In an effort to protect his fragile, vulnerable wife, Howard elects to take the rap for the shooting himself and, unwittingly, embroils himself in a world of international blackmail and conspiracy.

This suspenseful thriller has a great number of “whys” to keep readers guessing and intrigued.  Is everyone or everything exactly as they seem?  From the nervous wife to the mysterious Mrs Clayton; the reappearing handbag to the significance of the art work and just why does he keep calling the Inspector ”he”?