Cormoran Strike, an injured war veteran turned PI, and secretary Robin Ellacott seek the truth surrounding the mysterious passing of supermodel Lula Landry.

Strike tells the police that the circumstances of Rochelle's passing merit further investigation but is dismissed. He seeks out Lula's friends, the fashion designer Guy Somé and model Ciara Porter, and learns that Lula was looking for her biological family.

Robin gets key information from a salesgirl at the boutique Lula visited. Strike arrives just as Robin tries on a stunning green dress and he awkwardly averts his eyes as he explains his CCTV breakthrough - that a man left Lula's wearing a Guy Somé hoodie.