Sir Stafford Nye's journey home from Malaya to London takes an unexpected twist in the passnger loungs at Frankfurt - a young woman confides in him that someone is trying to kill her. Yet their paths are to cross again and again - and each time the mystery woman is introduced as a different person.

Equally at home in any guise in any society she draws Sir Stafford into a game of political intrigue more dangerous than he could possibly imagine. In an arena where no-one can be sure of anyone, Nye must do battle with a well-armed, well-financed, well-trained - and invisble - enemy...