After her sister's murder twenty years ago, Samantha Neil walked away from her family and home, fully intending never to return. There were too many hurtful words spoken in those last few days to ever attempt a reconciliation with her family and too many secrets that involved a feud between the Neils and their neighbours, the O'Donovans, that were never explained. Bundled into that pain was the loss of her childhood sweetheart, Rory O'Donovan.

When her mother dies, an urgent plea from her elder sister brings her back to Tasmania for the funeral. Left for Samantha was a suitcase full of family photos, an ancient diary written by her grandmother and a heart-breaking letter from her mother appealing for her to explore the clumsy investigation of her sister's murder and to read the diary, which would explain everything.

But when reading the diary and investigating the murder, a Pandora's box full of lies and deception is opened, leaving Samantha reeling from her discoveries.