The following version of this book was used to create this guide: St. Aubyn, Edward. Double Blind. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021.

Edward St. Aubyn’s novel Double Blind is written from the third-person perspective. St. Aubyn utilizes the past tense throughout the narrative.

The opening chapter introduces Francis, a naturalist who is working to reintroduce wild flora and fauna to a large British estate. Francis looks forward to reuniting with Olivia Carr, a woman whom he recently met at an academic conference. Olivia’s best friend Lucy, meanwhile, boards a plane to begin her new job at the London office of a venture capital firm, Digitas, owned by the businessman Hunter Sterling. Olivia, an academic focused on epigenetics, travels by train to visit Francis. As an adoptee, Olivia is particularly focused on the mysteries of genetic inheritance.

Saul Prokosh, a partner at Digitas, snorts cocaine with Hunter as they discuss Brainwaves, a technology that uses brain scans to replicate a certain emotional state in another individual. Hunter calls Lucy in preparation for his upcoming European visit. Lucy experiences a strange panic attack and makes plans to receive an MRI.

During her weekend with Francis, Olivia reveals that she recently met her biological mother, Karen. Karen said that Olivia has a brother, who was also put up for adoption. Several days later, Olivia, Lucy, and Francis meet for dinner. Lucy receives a message about her MRI results. The next day, Lucy learns she has a brain tumor. She plans to undergo a biopsy. Olivia and Lucy then return to Olivia’s childhood home. They chat with Oliva’s parents, who are both psychoanalysts, and her father, Martin, discusses one of his schizophrenic patients. Lucy chooses to hide her diagnosis from Hunter, and she accompanies him to several meetings about new technology.

Martin meets with Sebastian, a schizophrenic patient, in his home office. Martin, unlike other professionals, listens closely to Sebastian's often illogical musings. Martin and Olivia decide to write a paper together about the relationship between genetics and schizophrenia.

Hunter returns to his California ranch. He reflects on the success of his European trip, and in particular on the brain scan of a famous friar. He also considers his newfound romantic feelings for Lucy. Lucy soon receives her biopsy and decamps with Olivia to Francis’ cottage in order to recover. Hunter surprises her at the cottage, where he is impressed by Francis’ work.

Martin continues to meet with Sebastian. Several months later, Sebastian reveals that he was adopted and that his biological father abused him. This matches Karen’s description of her son that she relayed to Olivia. Martin thus suspects that Sebastian is Olivia’s biological brother.

Cardinal Lagerfeld berates a Franciscan priest, Father Guido, for allowing Hunter and Saul to scan the friar’s brain. The Cardinal commands Father Guido to convince Hunter to split the future profits that Brainwaves derives from the scan; the Cardinal is also upset because the Church is developing a similar technology. Father Guido travels to France for a party hosted by Hunter. Olivia, Francis, and Lucy are also in attendance. In the months since Hunter’s visit to Francis’ cottage, Hunter and Lucy have become a couple. Father Guido mingles with the guests and becomes unintentionally drunk. He wakes up later in the evening and attends a concert. He inadvertently takes MDMA and stays awake all night. Francis encounters Father Guido, early the next morning, staring blissfully out to sea.

Olivia soon reveals to Lucy that she is pregnant. Francis, who is working with Hunter to reinvigorate the natural lands around his properties in France and California, tells Olivia that he will support any decision she makes about the pregnancy. Saul and Hunter discuss the Church’s anger at the Brainwaves project. They mention that the project might prove beneficial to schizophrenic patients. Martin, as he considers becoming a grandfather, worries that Sebastian might encounter Olivia and her baby in their home. He wonders again whether he should pursue the mystery of Sebastian’s adoption.

Several months later, Francis meets with Hunter’s neighbors in California in order to discuss a larger conservation project. He visits the home of Hope Schwartz, where he finds her swimming naked. They flirt, but Francis leaves before consummating the relationship. Saul, meanwhile, plans on breaking away from Hunter in order to focus on his own business ventures. Olivia, midway through her pregnancy, grows suspicious about Francis’ relationship with Hope.

Sebastian successfully applies for a job at a catering company. During the previous months, Sebastian has made significant therapeutic progress. He meets with Martin and shares the news of his employment. Martin and Sebastian discuss the many recent changes that have occurred in Sebastian’s life and psyche.

At Howorth, Francis harvests magic mushrooms. Hope impulsively visits him at the cottage and helps him rescue a deer entangled in a wire fence. They kiss and flirt once again. Francis, however, thinks of Olivia and soon asks Hope to leave.

Hunter hosts a launch party for Brainwaves at London’s Spencer House. Father Guido, Cardinal Lagerfeld, Saul, the Carrs, Sebastian, Hope, Lucy, Olivia, and Francis are all in attendance. The Church has struck a deal with Hunter and they plan to sell limited edition versions of the Brainwaves technology. Francis and Hope take mushrooms together, flirt, and admire the grandeur of the mansion. Francis, overwhelmed by the psychedelics and by his attraction to Hope, escapes to a quieter room. Oliva finds him and they indirectly discuss the compromises they may have to make as parents. Hunter fires Saul after hearing of his plans to abandon the company. Sebastian, who is a server at the party, leaves the main hall after growing slightly agitated. He meets Olivia and they briefly discuss both her pregnancy and the Brainwaves technology. Sebastian, as he walks away, admits to himself that there are many good people in the world.