Adam Dalgliesh, recovering from suspected leukaemia, is tired of death, and goes to the Toynton Grange care home to see an old friend.

It is only in the final chapters that Adam Dalgleish figures out the dark secret behind the supposedly innocent care home.

In a 1975 book review, Newgate Callandar of The New York Times wrote "James is an exceedingly good writer, and her detective, Adam Dalgliesh, is one of the more unusual ones in action today.

The main filming location was Clavell Tower in Kimmeridge Bay, Swanage, Dorset.

[citation needed] Another adaptation with Bertie Carvel in the title role was part of the 2021 Channel 5 drama Dalgliesh.