The novel opens with the shocking death of Ludmilla Spurzova, a glamorous Hollywood actress whose beauty and scandalous affairs made her both adored and infamous. Her lifeless body is discovered floating in the pool of her Beverly Hills estate, and with her death comes a storm of suspicion, intrigue, and gossip that shakes Los Angeles’ glittering elite.

Ludmilla’s world is full of people who might have wanted her gone. There’s her ex-husband, a Russian prince, resentful and ruined by their bitter split. Her current lover, a man entangled in arms-dealing and shady business, could easily have motives tied to money and reputation. Surrounding them are jealous rivals, ambitious hangers-on, and former lovers—each with something to hide, and each with something to gain from Ludmilla’s fall.

At its heart, the novel is a murder mystery wrapped in Hollywood excess. The story dives into the lives of the ultra-wealthy and powerful, peeling back the glossy surface of fame to reveal betrayal, desperation, and danger underneath. Leason lingers on the opulence—mansions, limousines, glittering parties—but also the rot that comes with too much wealth and unchecked desire.

Thematically, it’s about the dark side of glamour and privilege. Money and beauty may dazzle, but they also create jealousy, cover up corruption, and give people reasons to kill. Every relationship in Ludmilla’s world—love, friendship, marriage—is entangled with ambition and deception. The mystery of her death becomes less about “who killed her” than “who among the rich and reckless is most desperate to protect themselves.”