[1] It is the twentieth in his series of novels featuring Inspector French, a prominent investigator of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.

[2] Following her husband's death that has left her in financial difficulties, Betty Stanton takes the post of housekeeper at Forde Manor in Surrey.

Frustrated by his attempts to try and ingratiate himself into local high society Buller decides to sell his property and move to the Continent.

One evening Stanton discovers the building is on fire, and her efforts to save the paintings is largely unsuccessful.

This and the discovery shortly afterwards of the body of an art expert who had recently valued the collection draws the investigation of both Inspector French and the insurance company.