Hilea Bailey and her father, Hilary, were too busy during the war to follow their normal occupation of private investigators. But now, in their first assignment in five years, these unique partners endeavor to find what lay behind the murder of Caroline van Heest.
They become involved because Hilea's recently returned fiance, Jake, is friends with Caroline's younger brother, Rufus. Rufus had been wounded in action and still in the hospital. He was worried about his sister, so he asked first one friend and then Jake to see what was happening at home. Since Hilea and Hilary were closer, Jake sent a telegram asking them to check the place out.
The motive could have been money, jealousy, blackmail, or a family crisis. The suspects could have been Ora, a hired man who does a disappearing act at a crucial moment, Mr. Goss, a man will exceptional hearing, Aunt Mary, whose excellent cooking didn't necessarily accompany a heart of gold, frustrated, embittered Ellen van Heest, or even the nouveau riche Sunderlands.
Hilea has a flair for observing details, while her father's keen mind puts the pieces together, and Jake, provides the muscle.