Michael Starkwedder encounters all the problems that rural Wales is known for: Ditches adjacent to poorly-lit roads, a corpse in the first house you visit, and a woman standing over it with a gun. But the woman is dazed and her confession unconvincing, so the unexpected guest decides to help her and blame the murder on an intruder. Later, the police discover clues that point to a man who died two years previously and a Pandora's box of loves and hates, suspicions and intrigues is opened to the night air.  A thriller as well as a puzzler, this classic whodunit by England’s mystery queen promises a happy immersion in all the fun of untangling the intrigue.