A man's body lies on the dining room carpet, a three course meal placed beside him. A beautiful doll sits watching, mesmerised by the surreal scene. A few streets away a son finds his mother, whom he thought had gone on holiday dead in her kitchen. What links the two deaths: one a recently promoted bank manager, the other a popular midwife. And what role does the doll play? The only connection appears to be Parkside Maternity Unit where Mrs Ederson worked, and where Mr Winter's first two children were born. DCI Harvey Tarquin, in charge of both cases, is frustrated. He has never undertaken such bizarre investigations. He knows no one if telling him the truth and the regular appearance of the doll is bamboozling. Susan Winters, the deceased's wife, appears to have little hold on reality, dressing the doll in a variety of costumes and wiping away the tears that run down her face. But is she a murderer? A further death adds to the conundrum.