Jess Bridge, a young New Yorker whose aspiration is to become a photojournalist, is hired by Life Magazine to cover the launching of Maggie Hartmann’s latest perfume in Egypt.

His presence there seems to surprise several people: from the dwarf he meets upon his arrival in Cairo, to the perfumer herself, and from Eleonore Dasfel, Hartmann’s favorite model, to Brian Marlow, the campaign photographer. Back to New York, after a few days in Egypt with the international jet-set, Jess gets intimate with Kate, an assistant at Life, relating to her the strange events that occurred in Egypt. Over the course of this breathtaking and captivating tale, we’ll discover the intricate connections between these characters. And with the help of friends and family, Jess will unearth the truth about Maggie’s deceased son, as well as his own history.