A group of servants in a secluded Swiss mansion orchestrate a calculated tragedy while their employers remain locked away in the library. Driven by a desire for profit and a cynical detachment from their masters, the household staff manipulates the events unfolding within the estate. They operate under the shadow of a raging storm and the presence of a confined, unstable family member, treating the impending violence as a business transaction. The narrative utilizes a claustrophobic, present-tense framework that emphasizes the cold, mechanical nature of the servants' planning. The characters navigate the rigid social hierarchies of the house, turning the domestic sphere into a stage for their own grim ambitions.

Readers and critics frequently note the clinical, detached prose style that defines this work. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to maintain a sense of dread while simultaneously mocking the absurdity of the characters' motivations. Many highlight the effective use of the mansion as a microcosm for societal decay and the erosion of traditional class boundaries. The pacing is described as tight and deliberate, ensuring that the tension remains focused on the servants' cold-blooded preparations. This book is often cited for its intellectual rigor and its refusal to provide traditional moral comfort to the reader.