When a neglected wife enlists a family friend to investigate her husband's infidelity, a web of social maneuvering and domestic deception begins to unravel. Douglas Yandell, a music writer, finds himself drawn into the complicated personal affairs of the Vandervane household. As he attempts to identify the conductor's current romantic interest, he must navigate the rigid social expectations and personal hypocrisies of the British middle class. The narrative employs a sharp, observational tone to dissect the motivations of its characters within a post-war societal framework.

Readers and critics frequently note the author's precise ear for dialogue and his ability to expose the absurdities of his characters. Discussion often centers on the cynical humor that permeates the narrative, which serves to highlight the underlying tensions of the domestic setting. Many observers point to the effectiveness of the author's prose in skewering the pretensions of the social class he depicts. The balance between the central mystery of the infidelity and the broader social commentary is a common point of analysis for those evaluating the work's impact.