Nine months ago, within hours of purchasing a valuable antiquarian diary for their grandfather, Paula Sinclair's brother, Eric, was killed by a car bomb and the diary disappeared.

Private investigator, Luc Dupré, and the French police insist the diary was destroyed in the explosion, but Paula isn't convinced. No trace of either the diary or Eric's briefcase was found in the rubble, so she believes the diary was stolen. Unfortunately, the diary wasn't insured and with the bank still owed half a million dollars, Paula cannot sit idly by and watch her beloved grandfather forced into bankruptcy.

Following a mysterious phone call and a series of cryptic postcards, Paula returns to Paris to hear the diary is being offered for sale by secret auction. She's also learned the diary once belonged to Luc's family, and when her relationship with Luc changes from business to personal, she's positive he's using her to get back the diary.