cornelia macerlean

Reggie and Ritchie accept an invitation offered by Sean and Moira, new "best friends", to spend Christmas holidays in the southwest of Western Australia’s wine growing district. Moira’s cousin, Francis, has made her holiday home available.

Reggie is not happy, having left her family and friends in Perth. Ritchie, her husband, is keen and eager, having known Sean since childhood. Moira, Sean’s live-in partner, is the unknown factor to both Reggie and Ritchie. Christmas Day is the turning point in these relationships.

The New Year sees Josh, Sean’s business manager, reporting Sean missing to police. Moira and her cousin, Francis, are to be charged with Sean’s murder. But Moira’s spiritual inclination (she is a Perfecti in the Cathar religion) convinces her that Sean is not dead.