Rob Ross, reeling from news of his childhood friend Jim Matthewson's fatal climbing accident, makes a pivotal choice to revisit the past—turning his car around to console Jim's widow. As he navigates a labyrinth of memories from London during the Blitz to the alpine peaks, Rob confronts a history steeped in camaraderie, love, and rivalry. Simon Mawer intricately layers these narratives, revealing the weight of history upon the present. Beyond deciphering Jim's death, Rob unravels deeply buried betrayals, ultimately uncovering the truth about his own family's history amidst wartime London.