A beggarwoman on a bench arouses Albert Campion's curiosity--and helps Scotland Yard lure him into a case of family dysfunction. The seemingly destitute woman is none other than a member of the eccentric Palinode family, which has recently lost two of its members. The police suspect a poisoner is on the loose, which is why Campion is willing to go undercover as a lodger in the boardinghouse where they live.

As the recently deceased are exhumed, Campion becomes acquainted with the old-fashioned, out-of-the-ordinary family members, who talk in crossword puzzle clues, sneak out at night, and cook vats of stinky food in the basement to save money. And if that's not enough to keep Campion on his toes, the local undertaker seems to be digging himself into a hole . . .

Praise for Margery Allingham

"Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light." --Agatha Christie

"The best of mystery writers." --The New Yorker

"Don't start reading these books unless you are confident that you can handle addiction." --The Independent

"One of the finest Golden-Age crime novelists." --The Sunday Telegraph

"Spending an evening with Campion is one of life's pure pleasures." --The Sunday Times