Philip Notman, a celebrated historian, attends a conference in Bergen, Norway. On his return to London and to his wife and son, something unexpected and inexplicable happens to him. The reality that he used to take for granted has become impossible to bear, and he is unable to settle back into his normal life.
Seeking answers, he flies to Cadiz to see In s, a Spanish academic with whom he shared a connection at the conference, but his journey doesn't end there. A chance encounter with a wealthy, elderly couple sends him to their house on the south coast of Crete. Is he leaving his wife, whom he claims to love, or is he on a quest for a simpler and more authentic existence? As he tries to make sense of both his personal circumstances and the world surrounding him, he finds himself embarking on a course of action that will push him to the very brink of disaster.
