The lives of Rickie Masters, his wife Madeleine, and her sister Dinah become inextricably and fatally bound through a web of emotional dependencies and hidden truths. Rickie, a man of fragile constitution and artistic temperament, finds himself caught between the rigid expectations of his marriage to the beautiful but cold Madeleine and the profound, unspoken connection he shares with her sister, Dinah. As the narrative unfolds, the characters navigate the suffocating constraints of their social circles and the internal pressures of their own desires. The story examines the destructive nature of these relationships, utilizing a character-focused framework to expose the vulnerabilities and moral failings of each individual involved.

Lehmann's work is widely regarded as a significant contribution to twentieth-century literary fiction, noted for its psychological depth and stylistic precision. Readers often highlight the author's ability to capture the delicate, often painful intricacies of interpersonal relationships with remarkable clarity. The narrative is frequently praised for its refusal to offer easy resolutions, instead favoring a somber and realistic portrayal of human frailty. The prose is often described as evocative and controlled, allowing the emotional weight of the story to emerge naturally from the interactions between the central trio. This novel remains a staple for those interested in the complexities of domestic life and the subtle ways in which individuals influence one another's fates.