Following the death of his wife, a retired Australian research scientist nicknamed Fletch decides to get away from it all and heads off to an extended summer holiday on the Mediterranean idyll of Gozo, Malta, with the intention of scuba diving and doing some historical sightseeing. His holiday begins with a minor hiccup but things quickly get back on track as he meets and bonds with a recently bereaved widow Heather, and her teenage daughter Grace.

Heather and Grace have similarly decided to get away from it all following the death of Heather's husband - Grace's father - with the intention of spending some quality time together to help with their grieving. Lazy, happy days follow as the girls decide to follow Fletch's example by training for their scuba diving certification.

But the happy times don't last for long as a familiar face from the past arrives on the scene - and Heather immediately starts an affair with the newcomer, Valentin, whom she knew from the past. Grace is appalled and hurt. To make matters worse, Valentin is also playing the field with the hotel manager's wife.

But then an unexpected and shocking death of the hotel manager follows. Was it an accident? The police think so, but Fletch and Grace suspect it was not, and that Valentin was responsible. They team up to investigate, and the more they uncover, the closer things get to home as more past coincidences are unearthed. After another death no one feels safe while they slowly expose a web of old family secrets, leading to some shocking revelations. More deaths follow, and an arrest made, but the true answers come from a completely unexpected quarter.