A spate of thefts is followed by a series of brutal murders at a student hostel in London.
Lynley and Havers investigate a murder at a star-studded gathering in a Scottish Highlands country house, but Lynley's judgement may be affected.
When a traveling carnival comes to town, Melinda encounters the spirit of a vengeful magician, who thinks his death during an underwater stunt was not an accident, but the work of his jealous brother.