This is the fifth book in Jemma Spark's Jill series which is a follow-on from the original Jill books by Ruby Ferguson. Jill Crewe has just returned from spending some time learning dressage in a riding school in Germany. She goes to Chatton where her best friend Ann has been living in Pool Cottage and has been looking after two of her horses. In spite of now owning three horses, Balius, Copperplate and Black Comedy Jill had decided that she wants a dressage horse.

Jill's mother gives birth to a baby boy with her second husband, and this significantly changes the line of inheritance, cutting out Richard's nephew, Mark Lansdowne. Aside from this viper's nest of family politics there is huge anticipation as a film company is coming to the castle to film Macbeth. The character of Banquo is to be played by Jill's friend, the filmstar Beau Carlisle. Jill is taken on to work with the horses in the film and many devious plots are hatched and executed.