Orphaned following a car accident, struggling with her grief, and a burden on her aunt, Miranda Fisher is sent to a boarding school on the Welsh border, miles from her native London. When she returns after the Christmas holiday, she learns that her favourite teacher has left the school, suddenly, and with no apparent reason. Her new house-mistress appears to take an instant dislike to her. Miranda stumbles on information which leads her to believe her life is in danger, however, it proves difficult to convince even her best friend that this is the case.