Augusta Gray is a happily married housewife in Marin County, California, devoted to her two girls and to her husband,Duke. But recently she has grown afraid to venture alone into the world outside her house, so she concocts a plan that will cure her strange phobia and, perhaps, improve her marriage.She intends to write an international jogging book. Despite Duke's initial ridicule, Augusta runs out into the world she has previously feared. She discovers that her body loves to run, needs to run.She also discovers Daniel, an old friend, a merchant sailor who, when ashore, is also a runner. He becomes her lover. But someone doesn't like it. Unaware of her impending doom, Augusta grapples eagerly with her sudden transformations for the good.She notices the presence in her life of a mysterious red-haired man. Ephraim Johnstone is the assassin -- young, brilliant, complicated,and witout peer in his profession. He is alarmed to discover that a mere housewife is proving to be the most difficult target of his career.Library Journal writes, "This novel is full of good things, all of them new. Trott is sly and her style is amusingly idiosyncratic.A must!"