Set in the French Riviera in the 1920s, the novel traces the tragic tale of a young psychiatrist, his beautiful wife, and the drama that unfolds amongst their circle of wealthy expatriate friends. The psychiatrist's wife suffers from mental illness, which leads to his own downfall as he struggles to keep his marriage intact and maintain his professional reputation. The narrative explores themes of wealth, love, desire, and the destructive power of obsession, painting a haunting portrait of the dark side of the glamorous Jazz Age.

In this sequel to The Favourite of the Gods, seventeen-year-old Flavia lives in the south of France in the late 1930s with the confidence and ardor of youth. She believes her destiny lies at Oxford and in public service, a view shaped by her idolized English father and her Italian mother, Constanza. When an intrigue that will decide the fate of those she loves draws her in, she begins to discover her true nature as she loses the bearings of her moral compass.