The Barnabas publishing dynasty is no stranger to mystery; after all, the founder's nephew is legendary for having disappeared in broad daylight. Yet the discovery of one of the Barnabas cousins, dead for some days inside a locked basement, throws the entire clan in disarray. They have no choice but to ask Albert Campion to step in and salvage their reputation.

Jimmy Sutane is London?s favorite song-and-dance man, headlining at the Argosy Theatre, and beloved by all. Or almost all: Someone has taken to playing increasingly nasty pranks. Albert Campion offers to poke around, but what he finds chez Sutane nearly overwhelms him. The far-from traditional household features a clutch of explosive egos, including a brooding ?genius musician,? and a melodramatic young actress who seems to delight in drawing others...