A member of the English upper class dies, leaving his estate and his business to an American, whom he thinks is his son who was lost as a baby and then found again. An Englishman who thinks he is an Indian comes to believe that he is actually the heir. He comes to hate the American who is his boss, his friend, and the man who has stolen the woman after whom he lusts.

A successful writer of children's books, Stephen Lewis is confronted with the unthinkable—he loses his only child, four-year-old Kate, in a supermarket. In one horrifying moment that replays itself over the years that follow, Stephen realises his daughter is gone. Kate's absence sets Stephen and his wife on diverging paths as both struggle with an all-consuming grief.

Jacob Marley, a despised man by most, cheated and lied to gain fortune. He stepped on most people on his way to prosperity. Six people had the means and the motive to kill Jacob Marley. Through deceit, manipulation, careful planning and shear hatred, someone made it happen. But who?

Unable to deal with her mother's death, Samantha turns to her drawings for solace. She discovers she is able to bring her drawings to life and attempts to bring her mother back. In doing so, she finds out the truth behind her mother's death.