A relationship between Maria and Mike develops early in the manuscript but we discover that there is a tension in Stephen (Maria’s girlfriend) which amounts to a possessive jealousy. It leads to a viciousness but one that Maria cannot resist.
On their first visit Mike has an affair with Maria, but they are caught out by Maria’s boyfriend, Stephen. A confrontation develops on the top of the iconic Calpe feature – the Penon de Ifach.
In 2023 Juliana wants to revisit Calpe apparently to just enjoy a second holiday there, but it becomes apparent that she is wanting to understand more about what happened 40 years earlier.
Juliana has been approached by a woman called Phil who is Maria’s daughter. Maria has died, and she wants to know about her mother, and the father, Stephen, that she never knew. She has discovered papers left by her mother, and has also received other papers but does not know where from.
Mike feels that Juliana is returning to Calpe for a specific reason but he feels forced to go along with it though it is a part of his life he wants to forget. Unknown to Juliana, Mike finds a correspondence which shows that Juliana has a motive for the visit which she has not admitted.
During the visit Juliana has clues to the fact that Maria’s lover was Mike, but she is uncertain.
But a new character arrives on the scene who has only been hinted at in the text so far; Purdey, a sister of Maria who wants revenge for the death of Maria. It turns out that she has been in an asylum most of her life.
At the top of the Penon, Purdey meets with Phil and Mike leading to the shocking conclusion.
