A body from the 1940s is found in an abandoned house in Apíranthos on Naxos. Archaeologist Martin Day is called to examine the ancient artefacts buried with it. Soon he is deeply involved, especially when more antiquities are found hidden in the old house. As he takes ferries round the Cyclades, flirts with the mystery of the Phaistos Disc, and surprises his wife with a romantic break on Santorini, the questions hanging over the unidentified skeleton are never far from his mind. He begins to work out what may have happened, though his theory is as incredible as anything he has come across before. He also realises that there are people who would rather that the secrets of the house remain just as they are: buried in the past.