Freelancing for a London publisher, editor Susan Ryeland is given the last job she wants: working on an Atticus P©ơnd continuation novel called P©ơnd's Last Case. Eliot Crace, the writer, is the troubled grandson of legendary children's author Miriam Crace who died twenty years ago. Eliot is convinced Miriam was murdered by poison. The more Susan reads, the clearer it becomes that Eliot has deliberately concealed clues about his grandmother's death inside the book. Desperately, Susan tries to prevent Eliot from putting himself in harm's way, but his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Another murder follows and suddenly Susan finds herself to be the number one suspect.