Laura, a Bosnian war survivor and Cambridge University librarian, has long tried to forget the horrors of her past. But when she falls in love with Balkan languages student Adam, disturbing memories start to emerge. 

As Adam's work leaves Laura increasingly isolated, she is visited by the ghosts of those murdered in the conflict. They don’t haunt her; instead they share stories, cook familiar meals and tell Bosnian folktales, reminding her of the home she once lost. However, when their longing for vengeance becomes clear, Laura must decide: are her guests a sign that she is unravelling, or can they help her confront the past she has fled for so long?