When Viola Alardyse is found murdered, private investigator Slim Callaghan must navigate a complex web of inheritance and deception to identify the killer among her three daughters. Callaghan is hired to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, quickly discovering that the terms of the victim's will provide a powerful motive for each of the primary heirs. As he probes the lives of the three daughters, he encounters resistance from those hiding secrets and faces the logical constraints of a closed-circle mystery. The narrative follows a traditional detective framework, focusing on the investigator's methodical interrogation and observation of the suspects.

Readers frequently highlight the sharp, cynical wit characteristic of the hardboiled genre present in Callaghan's internal monologue. Discussion often centers on the intricate plotting of the will's conditions, which serves as the primary engine for the narrative's pacing. Critics note that the atmosphere effectively captures the tension of the era, balancing the investigator's professional detachment with the high stakes of the family drama. The book is often cited for its efficient prose and the logical progression of clues that lead to the final reveal. Readers appreciate the focus on character-driven motives rather than purely procedural investigation techniques.