This is a crime mystery novel that tells the story of Grant, a mere Detective-Sergeant at Scotland Yard. Grant, who is only at the Literary sherry party to collect his dinner companion Marta Hallard for the evening, meets Leslie Searle by chance. Leslie Searle is a photographer and is in search of Walter Whitmore, whom he shares a mutual friend with. Though leaving quite an impression on Grant, the detective forgets all about him until the day Scotland Yard sent him down to Salcott St Mary to investigate and search for Leslie Searle's body.