Geoffrey Aspin is a successful older man. Since losing his much-loved wife Jill four years ago, he has become increasingly lonely. He takes the desperate step of advertising for female company, and meets divorcee Pamela Williams. Their friendship develops to the point that Geoffrey plans to ask her to marry him.His plans are shattered when a brutal murder occurs after a function for over ninety guests. DCI Peach and his murder team are brought in to sift through the evidence, and the finger seems to point at the Aspin family. Suddenly both Geoffrey and his new love are both suspects - and without alibis. Peach must weave his way through a labyrinth of false leads and bitter motives as he makes his way towards a startling solution.