When a property dispute at the Kilgour Estates turns lethal, Arnold Landon must identify a killer who utilizes archaic weaponry to silence competing claims of ownership. Landon, a council employee, finds himself caught between the demands of a haughty professor and the volatile tensions of the Kilgour family. As he navigates bureaucratic obstacles and the conflicting testimonies of a rake and a returning black sheep, the sudden murder of Patrick Yates transforms a civil disagreement into a high-stakes criminal investigation. The narrative follows Landon's methodical inquiry as he attempts to decipher the truth behind the estate's ownership while evading the threat posed by an assailant who favors ancient arrows over modern methods.

This work is characterized by the methodical, grounded approach typical of the Crime Club tradition, focusing on the intersection of local bureaucracy and private intrigue. The narrative relies on the steady, observant nature of Arnold Landon to anchor the reader amidst a web of family secrets and property disputes. The pacing suggests a deliberate, puzzle-oriented mystery that prioritizes logical deduction over high-octane action sequences. Readers who appreciate classic British detective fiction will likely find the setting and the protagonist's professional constraints to be the primary drivers of the story's appeal.