It is 1935, and Dora Wildwood is about to have the adventure of her life. Determined to escape from an engagement she does not want, Dora plans to seek refuge with her godmother, who is the only person she can think of who might understand her situation.

But before she can safely get to Lady Dreda Uglow, Dora is ambushed by her unwanted fiance, and in a headlong attempt to get away from him, she finds herself in the London Library, where she encountering some new friends, possible allies, and one dead body...

The subsequent murder investigation may lead Dora completely off track in terms of her escape plans, but it does position her well to partake of an entirely new experience. This is an enjoyable story that combines murder mystery with historical novel, and introduces us to a very unusual accidental sleuth.