January 1941. When Detective Inspector John Jago is called to a house in London's Bloomsbury, he finds the body of a woman who's been attacked and left to die, her only crime seemingly being her kindness to strangers. She's taken victims of the Blitz and the war that's torn Europe apart and given them refuge in her home, but now she's a victim too - of murder.

As Jago tries to find out who killed her and why, he uncovers a tangle of damaged hearts and minds. There may have been envy, resentment, even outright hostility. But who would want to strike down an angel of mercy in her own home?