As tragedy strikes Thaxos, Kate is reminded of her early days on the island. Edgar, meanwhile, is determined to help his wife, but he quickly settles on a plan that seems doomed to bring fresh heartbreak. As dead souls gather for another party at the mansion, even the usually loyal Jacob starts to worry. While Edgar works on his plan, Madeleine tries to discover the truth about the mysterious new arrival. After entering Joe's mind, she finds that someone has been there before her, and a deadly weapon looks set to strike the Le Compte family. With help from her nephew Sebastian, Madeleine tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Joe's past, but should she be paying more attention to her troubled niece Elspeth? This is the fourteenth book in the long-running Dead Souls saga. Each book ends with a cliffhanger, and readers are advised to start at the beginning.