The title is a reference to the manner by which Henry I of England is said to have succumbed to food poisoning, as well as the surname of the first murder victim, and his family, who fall under suspicion.

The Lampreys were always short of money due to their spendthrift ways, but their woes were always resolved with the timely death of a distant relative.

Upon her arrival in London, Roberta learns from her the eldest Lamprey children, Henry and Frid, that the family is once again in dire financial straits, this time the worst it has ever been.

In order to soften Uncle G's normally stingy personality, the Lamprey children put on a charade acting out the biblical story of Jael and Sisera.

The Lampreys hope to pin the murder on Aunt Violet as she is eccentric, into witchcraft and acts erratically after finding her husband's body.

The Lampreys are the obvious suspects as Gabriel's death ends their money woes and Charles now inherits the title of Lord Wutherwood.

On the second night there, Roberta and Henry wake up to find Aunt V roaming around the house with Gabriel's severed hand her pocket as part of a black magic ritual for protection.

As well as noting the real-life family who inspired the Lampreys, Earl F. Bargainnier calls the character of Roberta Grey "obviously Marsh's view of herself on her arrival in England in the late 1920s".

[2] Erik Routley called the novel Ngaio Marsh "at the top of her form... her longest and I think her richest story".