When a portrait commission at a stately home uncovers a potential scandal, an artist finds himself entangled in a mystery involving family lineage and missing art. Charles Honeybath arrives at Mullion Castle to paint the Countess, but his objective shifts as he observes the peculiar dynamics of the Earl's household. He must navigate the eccentricities of the family members and the suspicious presence of an under-gardener who bears a striking resemblance to the aristocracy. The narrative operates within the framework of a classic country house mystery, utilizing a third-person perspective to observe the social and logical constraints of the British upper class.

Readers frequently highlight the wit and dry humor that characterize the prose style of this mystery. Discussion often centers on the balance between the lighthearted depiction of aristocratic life and the underlying tension of the central investigation. Critics note the effectiveness of the atmosphere, which captures the specific social nuances of the British stately home environment. The pacing is generally described as deliberate, favoring character interaction and dialogue over rapid action sequences. Many readers appreciate the intellectual approach to the mystery, which relies on observation and deduction rather than physical confrontation.