As his family life unravels Quirke fights a losing battle with grief and drink, while Phoebe forges a new life for herself with the help of a group of oddly assorted friends. Phoebe’s new circle is Isabel Galloway, the shining light of the Gate Theatre; reporter Jimmy Minor whose crush on Phoebe goes entirely unnoticed by her; junior doctors April Latimer and the exotic Patrick Ojukwu, a Nigerian prince who has discovered that 50s Ireland is an uncomfortable place to be a stranger. Phoebe is worried that April hasn’t been heard from in over a week. The rest of the gang is not much surprised, sure that she has gone to London to get “the usual trouble” fixed, but Phoebe is not convinced. Lonely herself, and desperate for deeper connections in her life, she turns to Quirke for help, and Quirke, eager to reconnect with his daughter and to keep his own demons at bay, is quick to give it.