[1] It is the eleventh in his series featuring John Appleby, recently a Detective Inspector in the Metropolitan Police but currently living in an early retirement in the English countryside.

It takes the form of a country house mystery with an extremely complex plot, laced with strong elements of farce common throughout the series.

When the body of Sir Oliver turns up after dinner partially burnt in the fireplace in his study Inspector Hyland of the local force calls on the assistance of the famed Appleby.

A drunken Sir Sebastian shoots Grubb the head gardener, who appeared about to reveal some vital clue and then a major fire consumes much of the house in flames.

The whole case seems to have its roots in another mysterious fire forty years earlier, started by the insane Sir Romeo Dromio, that apparently killed Oliver's two triplets.