InthemonthsfollowingthesuccessfulresolutionoftheLulaLandrycase,businesshasimprovedforprivateinvestigatorCormoranStrike.Whilehandlingasteadystreamofdivorcecasesandtheoccasionaljobonbehalfofatabloidjournalist,StrikeisapproachedbyLeonoraQuinewithapleatolocateherhusband,thenotoriouswriterOwenQuine,whohasdisappearedwithoutatrace