Colin moved to Jersey when he married Emma. He has been working as a teacher for the three years ever since and has just learned that his wife used to date their close friend, Rob, a wealthy, flash hotelier on the island. Feeling threatened and deceived, Colin takes time out to process the news by walking along the clifftop but sees one of his students appear to be about to jump.

Colin drives the pupil home and believes he must have been mistaken, but when the boy misses school the next day, it seems Colin is the only one who is concerned about his welfare.

As Colin determines to find the missing boy, he goes against the island establishment. The mystery deepens as the reader learns of the secrets and lies being suppressed by each of the characters. All of their lives are enmeshed in the stifling, close-knit community.

This is a book full of atmosphere, tension and intrigue where the island setting is a convincing and beguiling keystone for the whole story.