In the spring of 1948, Sir Hubert Handesley livens up a week-end party at his country house, Frantock Hall, with a jolly game of murder - but Charles Rankin, a guest who brought with him a valuable dagger, really does end up dead. When Inspector Alleyn of Scotland Yard is called in, he finds he has to solve more than one mystery, as some valuable things, including a famous and silver chalice, have disappeared without a trace. Is he dealing with a murder by thieves, a theft to cover a murder, or two quite separate crimes? Alleyn's new friend Agatha Troy is among the guests, and it seems she disapproves of his methods.