A young man’s search for a former mentor leads him into a web of past trauma and present-day moral ambiguity in Istanbul. Farnaby, an academic researching Ottoman fiscal policy, attempts to reconcile his complicated history with Mooncranker, a once-celebrated intellectual now reduced to alcoholism. Tasked with locating Miranda, the woman who remains the object of his long-held obsession, Farnaby enters a secluded Turkish spa. The narrative examines how past influences shape adult identity as Farnaby navigates the eccentricities of the spa’s residents and the lingering effects of a mysterious gift received in his youth.

Readers and critics often note the dense, atmospheric quality of the prose, which mirrors the protagonist's internal confusion. Discussion frequently centers on the moral ambiguity of the characters and the slow-burn nature of the central mystery. Many highlight the author's ability to capture the tension between intellectual pursuits and raw, human desperation. The narrative is often praised for its psychological depth rather than its reliance on external action. Readers generally find the exploration of the protagonist's past to be the most compelling element of the work.