Playwright and novelist Augustus Maltravers and his actress girlfriend Tess Davy have planned a relaxing week staying with friends in Bellringer Street, an historic thorouhfare near the grounds of Edenbridge House, stately home of the Earls of Pembury. The only forseeable disruption looks to be the imminent arrival of their hosts baby – quite disruptive enough as far as Maltravers is concerned. But more disturbing dramas begin to unfold when a skeleton is stolen from the cellars of the House. At first it seems no more than a bizarre joke but, suddenly, Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in a terrifying cycle of vengeance, murder and shocking sexual trauma.