SheilaHoodisanex-copwhosemarriageisontherocks.Ratherthanconfrontingherhusbandaboutanaffair,shehidessurveillancecamerasinherhomeandwatcheshistransgressions,becomingavoyeurofherownlife.Herhusband,TomKale,isanornithologistwhobeginsanaffairwithanex-girlfriend,MerleJames,whosebeautyandfragilityechoesthatofthebirdshestudies.RayStarling,thechari求爱aticownerofaboutiquehotel,isMerle'slover,andhasdealingswithherfather,MrJames,apowerfuloilbaronwhooperatesintheshadowsbutwhoseinfluencetouchesthewholecity.Merle'syoungersister,Hazel,isalsodrawntoTom,buttrappedinStarling'swebofpower. Calvinisan 認為，他的搭檔 Hood 的每個人都嘗試過，當他有證據時，他用敏銳的眼睛與 TomtoStarling 的監護人“求愛，可能是 Merle 的死”聯繫在一起，求愛很神秘。