Private detective and war veteran Cormoran Strike investigates the mysterious death of model Lula Landry, who fell from a balcony. Everyone believes that Lula ended her life by suicide, but her brother doubts this and hires Strike to get to the bottom of the situation. However, Strike is skeptical about the case. Learning about the apparent suicide of Lula and the extensive media coverage of the case, he initially does not want to take on the investigation, but it's the only opportunity for Strike to earn some extra money, and eventually, he agrees. He is assisted by Robin Ellacott, who responded to an advertisement for a temporary assistant and secretly always dreamed of detective work.