SheilaHoodisanexcopwhosemarriageisontherocksRatherthanconfrontingherhusbandaboutanaffair,shehidessurveillancecamerasinherhomeandwatcheshistransgressions,becomingavoyeurofherownlifeHerhusband,TomKale,isanornithologistwhobeginsanaffairwithanexgirlfriend,MerleJames,whosebeautyandfragilityechoesthatofthebirdshestudiesRayStarling,thecharismaticownerofaboutiquehotel,isMerle’slover,andhasdealingswithherfather,MrJames,apowerfuloilbaronwhooperatesintheshadowsbutwhoseinfluencetouchesthewholecityMerle’syoungersister,Hazel,isalsodrawntoTom,buttrappedinStarling’swebofpowerCalvinisancopwhoseloyaltytohisexpartner,Hood,istestedwhenmountingevidencefromherownsurveillancetapesconnectsherandTomtoStarling’smurder,andperhapsevenMerle’smysteriousdeath