When Sophie Stone is chased by another car through the narrow lanes of the Chilterns late one summer night, she thinks it's just another drunken idiot - until he tries to block her in and wields a machete. She is rescued by another motorist, Luke Despard, and he discovers she is wealthy. More attempts are made either to kidnap or kill Sophie, but who would benefit by her death?

There's Pru, who would get the other half of their business, Sophie's half-brothers and their siblings. Convinced at last that they are real attempts Sophie goes to hide at Luke's cottage, but her trust in him is shattered when there is yet another kidnap attempt. Who knew they were there? Who can she trust?