Margaret Parsons was an ordinary woman, not distinguished by her beauty, intelligence, wealth, or position in society. She lived the quiet, colorless life of a “gray mouse” in the English outback. Therefore, everyone was amazed when they read in the local newspapers that her body with signs of strangulation was found in a nearby forest. The murder was clearly committed deliberately and premeditated. While conducting an investigation, Chief Inspector Wexford was amazed to discover a mass of expensive old books in the poor and unassuming house of the murdered woman. And each of them was signed by Margaret's secret and passionate admirer named Doone. Who is this? And is he involved in the death of a woman?..