SheilaHoodisanex-copwhosemarriageisontherocks.Ratherthanconfrontingherhusbandaboutanaffair,shehidessurveillancecamerasinherhomeandwatcheshistransgressions,becomingavoyeurofherownlife.Herhusband,TomKale,isanornithologistwhobeginsanaffairwithanex-girlfriend,MerleJames,whosebeautyandfragilityechoesthatofthebirdshestudies.RayStarling,thecharismaticownerofaboutiquehotel,isMerle’slover,andhasdealingswithherfather,MrJames,apowerfuloilbaronwhooperatesintheshadowsbutwhoseinfluencetouchesthewholecity.Merle’syoungersister,Hazel,isalsodrawntoTom,buttrappedinStarling’swebofpower.Calvinisancopwhoseloyaltytohisexpartner,Hood,istestedwhenmountingevidencefromherownsurveillancetapesconnectsherandTomtoStarling’smurder,andperhapsevenMerle’smysteriousdeath.