The film stars Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern as Joel and Garda Sloane, a crime-solving married couple who are also rare book dealers.

Joel and Garda Sloane, a husband and wife sleuthing duo, sell rare books in New York and dream of taking a vacation to escape the sweltering heat of the city.

Soon after arriving in Seaside City, Joel discovers that Eric Bartell, the unscrupulous promoter of the pageant, is duping Stevens.

Although Joel and Garda are warned by Chief Miller not to involve themselves in the case, along with the help of newspaper columnist Ted Bentley they begin to investigate the murder.

[1] In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther compared the teaming of Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern unfavorably with the leads from the previous two films in the series and wrote: "Metro seems to be stretching an original idea to infinity–a suspicion which is practically confirmed by the plot of 'Fast and Furious.'