When a prominent literary figure is discovered dead in his locked writing room during a house party, Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte is called to navigate a web of professional jealousy and hidden motives. The protagonist, Inspector Bonaparte, must decipher the complex social dynamics of the gathered writers and critics to identify the killer. He faces the challenge of a closed-circle mystery where every guest possesses a potential motive rooted in the victim's history of professional sabotage. The narrative utilizes a traditional third-person perspective to meticulously track the investigation as it unfolds within the isolated setting of the Blake estate.

This work is recognized as a quintessential entry in the Napoleon Bonaparte series, showcasing Arthur W. Upfield's ability to blend traditional mystery tropes with sharp social observation. The narrative structure relies on the interplay between the eccentric detective and the insular world of the literary elite, providing a distinct flavor to the investigation. Readers often note the precision of the puzzle-solving elements, which remain a hallmark of the author's mid-century style. The book maintains a steady, analytical tone that prioritizes the logical unraveling of the crime over sensationalist action sequences.