Joe Newman, a naturalised Briton, is telephoned by his German father, whom he believed long dead, at the same time as a funeral is taking place in Bavaria - with his father's name on the coffin. His investigation in Bavaria reveals startling facts and the obstruction he meets makes him suspect foul play.

A United Nations investigator crosses paths with a pair of psychic sisters on his way to Trollenberg observatory in the Swiss Alps, which has been plagued by a series of mountaineer disappearances that may be related to a radioactive cloud at the mountain's south face.