Young Ricky Alleyne came to the picturesque fishing village of Deep Cove to write his first book. The lack of entertainment in this quiet place is compensated by the locals, who behave more than strangely: the artist overzealously guards his sketchbook with paints, and the plumber, under the guise of night fishing, is clearly doing some shady business. When an accident occurs in the village - Miss Harkness, whose scandalous reputation was known to everyone in the area, dies while jumping on a horse over a ravine - Ricky begins his own investigation. He does not believe that an experienced horsewoman who ran a riding school and stable could die in such a strange way. And suddenly he disappears... Sybil Foster, the owner of one of the most elegant estates in the Upper Quintern, goes to the luxurious Renclod Hotel to rest and improve her health under the supervision of a doctor, where... she dies under unclear circumstances. Experts are unanimous: death was caused by a drug overdose. Did the eccentric lady deliberately leave her friends and relatives out of town to commit suicide? Moreover, as it turns out, she had plenty of motives for suicide - she was tormented by a debilitating illness, and her daughter refused to marry a suitable party. However, Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyne doubts the case is so clear cut and feels he needs to dig deeper.