Miss Melody Johnson, an old unmarried lady, dies in the strange village of Plumpton Bois. Once a busy and prosperous place, it is now almost deserted. Miss Johnson leaves her family home, Johnsons Place, to her sole surviving relative who cannot wait to inspect the property, but in doing so, is murdered by an intruder hiding in the cellar.

The local police officials can't agree on the motive for the crime. Some say a casual burglary, other something more subtle - although Miss Johnson was reputed wealthy, her declared estate was worth next-to-nothing.

What had happened to her fortune? The Chief Constable sent for Scotland Yard to settle the argument.

Superintendent Littlejohn and Inspector Cromwell set about the mystery and bring to light some strange facts both about the Johnson family, and other inhabitants of Plumpton Bois.

Littlejohn draws the many threads closer, but another sudden death threatens to break the strands and provide the killer with a way of escape...