ðə nˈɑːvəl bɪɡˈɪnz wɪð ɐ ʃˈɔːɹt, tˈuːtʃˈæptɚ bˈʊk wˈʌn ɪnwˌɪtʃ ɹᵻbjˈuːz sˈɛz ɡˈʊdbˈaɪ tə sˈæmi ˌɔn ɡˈaɪ fˈɔːks nˈaɪt ænd, ɐ fjˈuː ˈaʊɚz lˈeɪɾɚ, fˈaɪndz hɜːɹ ʌŋkˈɑːnʃəs ɪnðə hˈɑːspɪɾəl ˈæftɚɹ ɐ hˈɪtændɹˈʌn.
The novel begins with a short, two-chapter Book 1 in which Rebus says good-bye to Sammy on Guy Fawkes night and, a few hours later, finds her unconscious in the hospital after a hit-and-run.