When Barbara dies, in Sydney Australia, her daughter Lora finds a series of hidden letters addressed to her estranged father, Ted. Upon reading the letters, Lora realises that she never really knew Barbara, except as a mother. She uncovers family secrets, sad and hurtful lies and an array of fascinating people she never knew had made an impact on her mother’s life.

Spurred by these new facts and discoveries, Lora decides to travel to Europe, to her mother’s hometown. In a chance encounter she meets Davor—a world-famous, yet mysterious, figure who was the cause of both Barbara and Lora’s happiness and sadness, as these emotions emerge entangled, intertwined by his story and fascinating past.

The novel traverses Sydney, London and Düsseldorf, where the characters grapple with identity, belonging and how we find solace amongst life’s biggest challenges and questions.