New York, spring 2008. Young author Marcus Goldman suffers from writer's block, while his publisher's deadline is approaching. Then in the garden of his mentor, star author Harry Quebert, the body of Nola Kellergan is found, who disappeared without a trace more than thirty years earlier at the age of fifteen. On Nola's body lies the manuscript of the novel that gave Quebert his breakthrough to the general public. Harry Quebert is immediately the prime suspect and his famous novel is discredited. Convinced of the innocence of his great role model, Marcus sets out for Harry's home in New Hampshire to investigate the real facts of Nola's death. But the truth turns out to be much more complicated than he thought.