Only murder, a young throat slit in peculiarly horrific circumstances, could have detonated the atmosphere of languor and profound sexual unease in the Thompson household.

Francis King's glittering novel opens in India during the 1930s, at the lush summer house of the Thompson family. The whole household is under suspicion. Then a 'confession' is made.

But in Francis King's hands the spiciest of evil motives are merely decoys, the truth continuing to remain slippery and elusive.