Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton has enough problems on her hands. Not only is she struggling to upkeep the sprawling Manor House and vast acres she inherited, but she must also take care of her numerous tenants while coping with the inconveniences and sacrifices of wartime England. Fortunately, Sitting Marsh is far removed from the bombing going on in London and other cities. That doesn't mean that peace prevails in the tiny village, however. There's the handsome American major who takes over the Manor House for officers' quarters, and the group of belligerent housewives determined to take on the German invaders, not to mention a murder or two...

When a newly-constructed munitions factory in Sitting Marsh blows up, killing the owner, the local authorities declare it an accident. The victim had been receiving threatening letters, however, and that's enough to put Lady Elizabeth on the scent of a killer. Many people in the village wanted that factory gone. It will take a clever mind and nerves of steel to unravel this puzzle, and even though a major distraction has her mind spinning with opportunities, Lady Elizabeth is up to the task.