A group of six classics students at a small, elite Vermont college, led by a charismatic professor, become entranced by the study of Greek culture and decide to recreate a Dionysian ritual, which ends in a tragic accident. The group, bound by their shared secret, begins to unravel as paranoia and guilt take hold. The novel explores themes of beauty and terror, the allure of the esoteric, and the destructive consequences of obsession.

The novel revolves around Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she is hired to complete the remaining books in a successful series after its author, Verity Crawford, is incapacitated. As Lowen delves into Verity's notes and outlines, she discovers a hidden, disturbing autobiography that reveals dark secrets about Verity's life and her relationship with her husband, Jeremy. As Lowen becomes more entangled in the Crawfords' twisted world, she must decide whether to reveal the horrifying truths she has uncovered or protect Jeremy from the devastating reality.

The novel centers on William Dubin, a biographer in his sixties who is grappling with the complexities of his own life while delving into the lives of the historical figures he writes about. As he navigates his marriage to his wife Kitty and an affair with a much younger woman named Fanny, Dubin confronts themes of identity, fidelity, and the passage of time. Through his introspective journey, the narrative explores the interplay between personal history and the broader human experience, ultimately questioning the nature of truth and the stories we tell about ourselves.