The fabulously successful Oxford-based fantasy novelist seems to Lewis to be the key to solving the bizarre murder of a beautiful woman with a mirror.

Lewis investigates the murder of student Richard Scott. He was killed just before premiering The Merchant of Venice. During the investigation Lewis gets personally involved.

A former religious fanatic who deliberately tried to kill an outspoken atheist in a car crash but only succeeded in disabling his daughter is murdered.

A teenager is found dead and, while his body was found elsewhere, the location of death is determined to be at the gates to an estate owned by a 60s rocker, a hero of Lewis's youth.