Student Prentice McHoan carries out his recently deceased grandmother's request to find out what happened to his Uncle Rory, who disappeared seven years before. After meeting Rory's girlfriend Janice, Prentice discovers he had been working on a murder mystery novel called The Crow Road. Janice gives Prentice the computer discs containing the novel. Prentice starts to search for Rory with the help of his friend Ashley.