When Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study everyone is shocked & mystified: Ernest was well-liked & respected so who would have a motive for killing him? Enter Superintendent Hannasyde who with consummate skill begins to uncover the complexities of Fletchers life. It seems the real Fletcher was far from the gentleman he pretended to be. There is in fact no shortage of people who wanted him dead. Then a second murder is committed with striking similarities to the first giving a grotesque twist to a very unusual case.