Detective Napoleon Bonaparte investigates a series of unsettling deaths surrounding the isolated and ominous Answerth family estate. The protagonist must navigate the psychological tension of a household steeped in local legend and ancestral guilt while contending with the physical hazards of the surrounding man-made lake. As he attempts to uncover the truth behind the 'Venom House' moniker, he faces resistance from a family defined by its insular nature and historical trauma. The narrative utilizes a third-person perspective to track the methodical, observational approach of the detective as he deciphers the environment and the motives of the inhabitants.

This work is widely regarded as a quintessential example of the Australian detective procedural, showcasing the author's signature focus on landscape as a character. The narrative is noted for its ability to blend traditional mystery tropes with the specific, haunting geography of the outback. Readers often highlight the protagonist's unique observational skills and his ability to bridge disparate cultural worlds during his investigations. The book remains a staple for those interested in the evolution of the genre within the mid-twentieth-century Australian context.