When a pregnant former lover threatens his impending marriage to a wealthy heiress, an ambitious salesman orchestrates a calculated plan to eliminate her and conceal the evidence in a remote marshland. Alan Hunt, driven by social climbing and financial gain, views the arrival of Gwenda Nicholls as a direct obstacle to his future. He must navigate the tension of his double life while executing a cold-blooded scheme to protect his status. The narrative focuses on the psychological maneuvering of a predator who believes he has found the perfect location to bury his past, forcing the reader to track his movements as he attempts to outwit those around him.

Contemporary critics praised the work for its technical precision and the chilling portrayal of its central character. The Evening News highlighted the author's command of suspense, while the Sun noted the ingenuity of the plot's construction. The Observer identified the book as a compelling study of a narcissistic personality, noting the cold efficiency with which the protagonist operates. Readers generally appreciate the clinical approach to the crime, which avoids melodrama in favor of a methodical examination of a calculated murder.