The mystery takes place in the fictitious rural community of Winghurst and begins with the death of Algernon Fratton in a motorcycle crash which it is soon apparent was caused by the deliberate act of some other person. The local police have no shortage of suspects, not least the dead man’s uncle, who stood to gain by his death at such a timely moment and whose car passed the scene at about the same time. A pair of local artists and Fratton’s friend and heir are also suspect and the assistance of Scotland Yard, in the shape of Rhode stalwart Jimmy Waghorn, is invoked. He already has some knowledge of events, having been present when the local doctor discussed the case with Dr Priestley and his friends. Jimmy gets to work energetically, uncovering several strange elements of the case, including a mysterious bricklayer who appears from nowhere and several odd items found in a pool close to the scene of the crime.
