It takes the former of a locked room mystery with a closed circle of suspects, both popular variations of the genre during the period.

When the identity of his murderer ceases to be a mystery about half way through, we may feel, no doubt unfairly, that the author has simply been unable to keep it up."

Wealthy painter Lydia Arundel continuously flirts with the attentions of the men in the small Sussex village in which she lives.

Making her potential enemies amongst a number of inhabitants, including the guilt-ridden rector who fails to get over a brief dalliance with her and a young woman who believes her fiancee is carrying on with her.

However retired army officer and detective fiction enthusiast Major Boddy takes up the case, with the assistance of his servant and former orderly Private Gammon.