Elderly John Marbury, who had arrived from distant Australia the day before, was killed in central London. But who could wish death on a man who had not been to England for a very long time? Detective Rasbury, leading the investigation, turns to his friend, crime reporter Frank Spargo, for help. They soon learn that, shortly before his death, Marbury met with MP Aylmore and for some reason carefully kept a ticket for a race that was held many years ago... Many tourists arrive in the provincial town of Ricester, famous for its magnificent medieval cathedral, and one day one of them , John Braden, is found dead near the church walls. A bystander claims he was pushed down the stairs. The police begin an investigation, but unexpectedly, under strange circumstances, a witness to the crime also dies...