Matthew Marcan returns to Bristol, his childhood home, to attend the funeral of his mentor, Richard, the director of music at the cathedral. Matthew sees himself as Richard’s natural successor but is passed over in favor of Geraint, and reluctantly agrees to take on the role of assistant organist. Filling the atmospheric cathedral with music for its daily choral services is his obsession, but his lazy new boss proves a determined hindrance to his work.

Matthew meets blues musician Chloë, and finds himself drawn into a love triangle with her former lover, a man who brings death with him from the gothic South of the USA.

As work and conflict at the cathedral thwart his expectations, Matthew comes to see his life and his career as a musician very differently. Does love offer refuge? Can he and Chloë establish a relationship without falling foul of her ex, who will seemingly stop at nothing, even murder, to get Chloë, and then Matthew, to agree to his sinister ultimatum?