In the autumn of 1918, a peaceful English moat-house becomes the scene of a horrifying crime when Violet Heredith, a newly married London woman, is shot dead in her bedroom while guests are dining downstairs. Detective Superintendent Merrington and local authorities are immediately summoned to investigate the seemingly motiveless murder. Amidst a web of suspicion, the police focus their attention on Hazel Rath, the housekeeper's daughter, whose secret love for the victim's husband provides a dark motive. A search reveals a bloody handkerchief, a revolver belonging to an absent officer, and a distinctive greenstone brooch left at the scene.
As the net tightens around the arrested girl, her guilt appears certain under the weight of circumstantial evidence. However, her husband Philip refuses to accept her guilt and engages the renowned private detective Colwyn to unravel the truth. Colwyn's arrival initiates a deeper inquiry into the dark undercurrents of the moat-house and the complex relationships hidden beneath polite facades. The narrative weaves together elements of classic detective fiction, psychological tension, and subtle character studies against the backdrop of post-war rural England. As secrets are unearthed and past tragedies resurface, the investigation moves toward a startling revelation that challenges the hasty conclusions of official justice.
