James Lessiter did not have time to return many years later to his native Lenton to inherit the family mansion when he was found with a broken head. Was this murder out of revenge, for the sake of a substantial inheritance, or is the motive hidden in something else? The more testimony and evidence the police collect, the wider the circle of suspects becomes. It’s good that Miss Silver came at the right time to visit her friend and agreed to take on the investigation... The old hotel, perched on a cliff, emanates mystery. The Wheel of Fire, once a haven for pirates and smugglers, now becomes the scene of an unexpected murder. Strangely, the descendants of the late hotel owner gathered here are in shock, the police are at a dead end, and only Miss Maud Silver is able to shed light on this mysterious crime.