My 1 page synopsis is below. The aim of a synopsis is to give an idea of where the story is going, as well as a chance to show off the quality of writing.
I'd love some feedback. Does it explain the story adequately? Do you know who the main characters are? Let me know in the comments.
Miss Lyon and the Mystery of the Jade Mask
Synopsis
THE HONOURABLE MISS XAVIA LYON (30), a London antique book dealer, is asked by her solicitor to find a Mayan jade mask hidden by the dead archaeologist DR MATHESON MICHAELS (67) for his heirs, one of whom is his niece DR HONOURIA MICHAELS (45).
Xavia’s starting point is Dr Michaels’ unsettling journal. Triggered by his writings, Xavia dreams each night of the jade mask. It squats, malevolent, and calls to her. She wakes every morning, distraught and increasingly tired.
Finally, Xavia gets hold of the papers Dr Michaels' had with him when he died, one of which is a map showing the site where the mask was found. She realises the strange layout of Dr Michaels’ garden at his Oxford house reflects the site. Xavia rushes back to investigate.
Xavia is met by FREDDIE MYERS (27), a clerk from the solicitor’s office. Using the map, they find a buried trapdoor in the garden. Xavia investigates but Myers slams the door down on her, trapping her. In the room at the end of a tunnel she finds the jade mask and can feel its malevolence. Finally she accepts her dreams are not simply her imaginings, but real.
Myers returns with Honouria. Xavia is crushed at the betrayal by someone she has come to respect. Honouria tells Xavia how proud she is of her for working out the clues and finding the mask, before pulling out a gun. She dives for shelter but Honouria is faster and Xavia is shot, her leg ruined. Gloating, Honouria takes the jade mask in her hand. She is transfixed by the power of the mask, but it overcomes her mind and body and the mask slips from frozen fingers to crack and shatter on the ground. Honouria’s heart does the same.
Miss Lyon is left, lying, watching the small stream of her blood wend its way across the floor towards the two broken masks, one of flesh, one of jade.







