SheilaHoodisanex-copwhosemarriageisontherocks.Ratherthanconfrontingherhusbandaboutanaffair,shehidessurveillancecamerasinherhomeandwatcheshistransgressions,becomingavoyeurofherownlife.Herhusband,TomKale,isanornithologistwhobeginsanaffairwithanex-girlfriend,MerleJames,whosebeautyandfragilityechoesthatofthebirdshestudies.RayStarling,thechari求爱aticownerofaboutiquehotel,isMerle'slover,andhasdealingswithherfather,MrJames,apowerfuloilbaronwhooperatesintheshadowsbutwhoseinfluencetouchesthewholecity.Merle'syoungersister,Hazel,isalsodrawntoTom,buttrappedinStarling'swebofpower.卡爾文的忠誠是由他的同事胡德決定的，當時他從雇主的監控錄像中發現了與 Tomtostarling 的“求愛謀殺，也許是七梅爾”求愛神秘死亡有關的證據。