What Have You Done to Solange?

Elizabeth Seccles and her professor Enrico Rosseni are aboard a boat when she glimpses a man stabbing another woman in the woods along the nearby shore. The sight is abrupt and chilling, setting off the unraveling of a deadly sequence. The event establishes a direct link between the killer and the victims to come.

Rosseni presses Elizabeth to keep what she saw a secret, warning that speaking out could ruin lives. He argues that any disclosure would bring trouble for both of them, especially given his relationship with her. The pressure to remain silent plants the seed for a cover-up that fuels the investigation later.

Shortly after the sighting, Elizabeth is found murdered in her bathroom, a brutal act that confirms the killer is still at large. The violence marks the first of a string of fatal consequences that ripple through the campus and within Rosseni's circle. The murder raises the stakes for everyone involved in the secretive world around Solange.

In an attempt to salvage his reputation, Rosseni confesses his affair to his wife Herta and seeks her help in clearing his name. He hopes that admitting the truth will disarm suspicion and buy him time. The confession exposes domestic strain as a backdrop to the broader mystery.

Initially, the police suspect Rosseni of the killings, tying the pattern to his relationship with Elizabeth and Solange. However, as more murders occur and a common thread emerges, he is ultimately cleared. The investigation pivots toward a larger network behind the school’s secret life.

Investigators learn that the victims had all seen a local priest and were connected to a young woman named Solange. These connections point to a hidden social circle within the campus and help explain the pattern of arrivals and relationships. The pieces begin to suggest a more sinister social ritual at the school.

Rosseni's inquiries reveal a hedonistic secret club comprising several college girls, including Elizabeth and the other victims. The club's activities become central to understanding the motive and the series of murders. Its existence links social privilege with lethal consequences.

The police discover that the priest many victims spoke to is not a priest at all but Solange's father, Professor Bascombe, a wealthy tenured teacher. This revelation exposes a web of deceit and class privilege at the heart of the crimes. Bascombe's role as both educator and facilitator shocks everyone involved.

Ruth Holden, known as Tata, is found murdered alongside her dog, her body pierced by a sickle in a brutal act tied to the secret club’s dark underbelly. The crime underscores the brutality behind the club and the college’s protected circles. The murder deepens the mystery surrounding Solange and her family.

Bascombe confronts the investigation, denying involvement until Solange unexpectedly appears. She is mute and emotionally disturbed, guiding Herta to the place where the final club member was kidnapped. The family linkage shakes the investigators and reframes Solange's role in the chain of crimes.

Bascombe finally confesses that Solange’s first orgy led to pregnancy, and the other girls forced an abortion with Ruth Holden acting as the back-alley obstetrician. The trauma of the abortion devastates Solange, rendering her childlike and nonverbal. The confession connects the earlier violence to one central source of motive.

After revealing the motive, Bascombe takes his own life by shooting himself at his desk. The act marks the collapse of his control over the situation and forces the investigation to reassess who is responsible. His death closes a grim chapter but leaves many questions unresolved.

Mute Solange silently leads Herta to the place where the final sex club member was taken, revealing the extent of the club’s reach. The discovery ties together the fates of the students and confirms Bascombe’s control over the network. The final clues bring the case toward its tragic end.