English aristocrat, Cynthia "Thia" Beresford is everything a Victorian lady shouldn't be - outspoken, strong-willed and a champion of feminist issues long before they came to the fore. When she becomes bored with the demands of nineteenth century society she decides to forego the luxuries of Huntingley and embark on a riding expedition across the wild open pampas of Patagonia. Accompanied by her father, brother, his friend and her Newfoundland dogs, Thia joins the ship in Liverpool. On board, she is intrigued by a mysterious Welshman, Euan Davies and when the group disembarks in South America she is delighted when Davies agrees to ride with them. But after only a week in the saddle the stranger's disturbing secret starts to unfold and Thia's party soon find themselves embroiled in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a group of dangerous prison escapees. Beset by Indians, inhospitable terrain, pampas winds and mountain lions, is it possible this mismatched party of travellers can survive?