An archaeologist smuggles a valuable ancient jewel into the US. He is soon murdered by people looking for the jewel, but he had hidden it. The killers, believe that his widow knows where the artifact is hidden, go after her.

Mystery writer Sian Anderson leaves her boyfriend John for three weeks of intense writing in the isolated Greek town of Monemvassia. Upon her arrival in the ancient, deserted, walled-in fortress, she is met by Elias Appleby, the round eccentric landlord who guides her through mysterious underground passageways to the house where she will work. He warns her to stay inside at night because of the killer winds that arrive after dark.