A contract to write a visitor guide for a theme park, planned for Kingarth on the Isle of Bute, proves to be a dangerous assignment for Alison Cameron. There is fierce local opposition to the proposal; the manager has left suddenly with no explanation and the on-site archaeologists are in no hurry to complete their survey. There is a suspicion that Alexander Crombie, who is financing the project, is about to run out of money and then, when she thinks things can't get any worse, the first body is found.