Georgie Sinclair is the main character in this book set in London.She has separated from her husband Rip and is trying to sort out her life.

She has just thrown a whole heap of his LPs into the skip in front of her house when a neighbour rummages through the rubbish to "rescue"some of the refuse.The neighbour is Mrs Shapiro (A Jewish immigrant), and Georgie is drawn to her, although they are quite different.Mrs Shapiro lives in a squalour, with malodorous cats, but they have a strong connection.

Georgie's job is to research and contribute to the publication "Adhesives in the Modern World", but she is drawn into Mrs Shapiro's story and her life, including the mystery about her husband.