It's 1898 in fabulous Sorrento, Melbourne's holiday playground, and Inspector Harry Holloway, wife Effie and family are taking a much-anticipated summer holiday. But murder and intrigue soon unsettle their holiday plans, and Harry must forego the pleasures of the seaside when he is called back on duty. Harry's overbearing boss, Chief Inspector Winston Marks, suspects international intrigue, but Harry is not so sure. He's investigating other possibilities, but he's struggling to make progress, and he's getting precious little help from the sleepy local constabulary. And a wall of silence seems to surround the murder victims, adding to Harry's frustrations. Meanwhile, Effie does her best to enjoy Sorrento's cultural attractions in Harry's absence. But there too, all is not quite as it seems and Effie suspects a connection to Harry's investigation. She and her friend Lydia reckon they can help Harry crack the case