Set in Kenya, 1930, the story continues to follow the lives of the two main characters, Harry and Una, introduced in Book 1, 'The Lion in the Morning'. Una struggles to deal with the aftermath of the assault made on her by Lord Crofton and at the same time face up to the reality of her relationship with Rachel. Harry participates in a hunting safari with unexpected consequences. Segge, Harry’s Maasai blood brother, starts on a journey to his ancestral lands in Ethiopia hoping in the process to expunge the shame of his circumcision ceremony. Several new characters are introduced – Louise (the daughter of a wealthy Chicago newspaper owner), her sister Dorothy and a 'Washington Post' newspaper reporter, Tom Reynolds.