Aussie social historian Sheila McKenna is in the UK to research a book when she buys an old penny - one that has been used as a farewell token by a Victorian convict about to be transported. Starting from the inscription on the coin, she sets out to track down the convict’s family. By trawling through the records and picking the encyclopaedic brain of her lawyer fiance Chris Tyroll, Sheila narrows the search down to six possible families. They all have stories to tell - of illegitimacy, desertion, errant clergymen, gold digging and even murder - and they are only too happy to tell them.

But unpleasant things have started to happen and slowly the couple realise that someone is trying to stop them. Far from revealing all, one of the families has something to hide - and they are using increasing violence to make sure their secret is never uncovered.

With more suspects than they can shake a stick at, Chris and Sheila run a gauntlet of ingenious and deadly traps before the past reveals all.