The arrival of a BBC film crew to document the life of a deceased archaeologist forces his surviving family to confront long-buried personal secrets. Laura Paxton, the widow of the late archaeologist Hugh, finds her quiet life disrupted when a television production team arrives to film a documentary about her husband. Her daughter, Kate, and Kate's fiancé, Tom, become entangled in the process, which serves as a catalyst for revealing hidden tensions and past deceptions within the family unit. The narrative examines how the act of excavating history—both professional and personal—inevitably alters the stability of the present. Lively employs a controlled, observational prose style to dissect the psychological landscape of her characters.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the author's ability to maintain a sharp, observational tone throughout the narrative. Discussion often centers on the parallels drawn between the archaeological work of the deceased protagonist and the emotional excavation performed by his surviving family members. The pacing is noted for its deliberate, measured quality, which allows for deep character development rather than relying on external action. Many readers appreciate the way the book captures the specific social atmosphere of its era while maintaining a focus on universal themes of family secrets and personal integrity. The work is widely regarded as a sophisticated study of how the past exerts influence over the present.