A body is found buried in the grounds of Oakdene Manor. Anna Sheppard, who has recently inherited the manor and estate has no idea as to its identity.
The police begin an investigation which, added to the mystery of Anna's discovery that her inheritance is not what she expected, have come up with a suspect, who, through marriage, expected that the house and estate would eventually be his.
The scenario moves from the west country across the Atlantic to Hollywood and Las Vegas and back to Europe and Spain. It involves the forgery of a collection of paintings and the amassing of a fortune of stolen valuables.
It seemed that the culprit would forever elude them but, as Inspector Whitcombe said to Anna, "Take heart. Villains like him nearly always slip up --- and when they do we'll be waiting."