'Shadow of the Rope' Summary

Accused of murdering her dissolute husband, Rachel Minchin stands trial in a case that becomes a media sensation. Despite overwhelming evidence against her, the jury stuns the world with a verdict of Not Guilty. In the aftermath of the trial, Rachel finds herself in need of protection and accepts a surprising offer of marriage from Mr. Steel, a stranger who has been present at every day of her trial. Their marriage is a platonic one, with the condition that neither is to question the other about their past. As they retreat to Steel's remote country estate, Rachel discovers that her new husband's past is somehow intertwined with her first husband's history. Doubts and suspicions arise in her mind as local gossip threatens to expose her own hidden secrets. The mystery deepens, with secrets coming to light and the line between truth and deception becoming increasingly blurred.