Emma Perotti, an ESL teacher in Manhattan, enfolds one of her students, An-ling Huang, into her family despite her husband Tom's distrust of the young Chinese woman. Emma is motivated by her own dark secrets. As the bond between the women grows, Emma's marriage stalls. After An-ling seduces Josh, she is found dead and Emma is charged with her murder. Trinchieri, who has penned seven previous mysteries under the pseudonym Camilla Crespi, deftly interweaves multiple perspectives, from Emma's husband and son to key participants in the trial.