It follows the alcoholic George Harvey Bone (who has a dissociative identity disorder) and his tortured love for Netta Longdon in the months leading up to the Second World War.

A black comedy, it is often cited as Hamilton's finest novel, exemplifying the author's concerns over social inequalities, the rise of fascism and the impending onset of World War II.

Set against the backdrop of the days preceding Britain declaring war on Germany, the main character is George Harvey Bone, a lonely borderline alcoholic who has a form of dissociative identity disorder, referred to in the text as a "dead mood".

This potentially promising turn of events in George's life is dashed, however, when he suddenly clicks into a dead mood and resumes his murder plans.

Starring Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell and George Sanders, significant changes to the novel were made, most notably the plot's re-location to the Edwardian era.