Tragedy seemed to stalk the Tremain family. Sidney Tremain had hanged himself for no obvious reason. His son, Morley, had had the misforturne to fall in love with a girl who slept around--and get convicted of killing her. And now Cedric Tremain was charged with murdering his wealthy father by blowing up his boat.

Chief Superintendent Wycliffe knew something was wrong, knew that the apparently cut and dried case wasn't what it appeared to be be. Carefully he cast his bait--and waited for the real killer to surface.