One headless body on the beach near Frank Doy's home on the Cleveland coast was regrettable, two more were disturbing. But when an uncommunicative woman arrives at his house in the dead of night and then disappears again almost immediately, Doy realizes he is involved in something worrying. His search for her uncovers a mysterious man with a private art collection and some Russian emigres, and leads him deeper into the strange goings on at Port Holland and nearby Meridion House. Frank can't rest until he has unearthed the secrets surrounding him and saved the life of the woman who had come out of the night for refuge at his cottage on the coast.