Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Aunt Bessie to nearly everyone, is taking the beginner's Manx language class for the fourth time. This time, however, many of her friends are taking it with her, which means she'll have lots of people to practice with, whether she wants to or not.

Aunt Bessie needs to try to help her friend, Laura Meyers.

Laura is nearly in tears when she arrives at the first class, but she's reluctant to talk about what's wrong. When she does confide in Bessie, Bessie wants to get the police involved, but Laura refuses.

Aunt Bessie needs to work out who is telling the truth, which isn't easy in a murder investigation.

Can Bessie help the police solve another murder? And will she ever learn to speak more than a few words in Manx?