Dublin pathologist Dr. Quirke investigates the death of Geraldine Milligan who from all appearances seems to have committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills and heroin. The combination is odd and when a second suicide victim, Deirdre Hunt, is found in the sea and appears to have died from the same drugs, Quirke is certain there is something more sinister. Quirke had recently met Deirdre when her husband Billy, a former medical student of Quirke's who is now a pharmaceutical rep, introduced them at a reception. Billy Hunt was in Northern Ireland at the time of his wife's death and can't fathom why she would have taken her own life. Meanwhile, Phoebe tells her mother that she is moving out on her own, something that displeases her father Malachy. He's also upset that she's given up her medical studies and is working in a hat shop. She meets Leslie White who manages the hair salon nearby but is also involved in the drugs that the women are taking.
—garykmcd