A spy thriller with industrial espionage and romance. Why should the SVR, Russia's successor to the KGB, be interested in a small scientific glassware business in north-west London? Elizabeth Fielder, one of their agents, takes the place of Peter Lewis' secretary after she is killed in a hit and run "accident." Lewis has the entree to a Swiss laboratory which is developing a personality-altering drug and which the Russians plan to steal. Another foreign security service, led by Sam Charles, is keeping Elizabeth under surveillance. Sam has fallen for Elizabeth but can only admire from afar. Meanwhile Lewis and Elizabeth fall in love and he moves into her apartment. The theft of the drug is planned for Lewis and Elizabeth's visit to Basel to make a delivery to the laboratory during the annual Fasnacht Carnival. There is a kidnapping, a rescue by the other security service, a shooting and Elizabeth's arrest on a murder charge. For Lewis the discovery that Elizabeth is not who she purports to be is shattering. For Sam the next campaign is to get Elizabeth out of prison, whether or not she will respond to his affection."