Dorothy Martin is fitting in comfortably in her new English home, and now that her policeman husband, Alan, has retired, she's looking forward to some quiet time with him. But then the letter arrives: an old acquaintance in Indiana has died and left her a small inheritance. It seems an excuse to travel back to the States and take a well-deserved vacation.

Dorothy should have known better. As well as the money, Kevin Cassidy has left a note predicting his own murder. It seems absurd; the beloved professor was ninety-six when he died, apparently from pneumonia. But Alan and Dorothy know about innocent facades. As Dorothy begins to investigate, Alan discovers that his wife's sleuthing is hard work . . . and that here, Dorothy is very much in charge.