Mr. Sebastian Dommett, retired county coroner, had led an unhappy life during his career. Originally a member of a legal firm, his partner had decamped with clients’ funds. Then his only daughter had eloped with a policeman, which made Mr. Dommett detest the police and harry them in his court. He ended up by living in fear of someone or something, but never lost his aplomb.

Finally, Mr. Dommett, hearing that Chief Superintendent Littlejohn, of Scotland Yard, was approaching retirement, had the temerity to consider offering Littlejohn the job of steward and security officer of a tumbledown manor house his wife inherited. Before Dommett could make a firm offer, however, he was found battered to death and it fell to Littlejohn to collaborate with the local police on the case.

The ruined manor house was said to be haunted and of evil repute. Many strange things happened there and among its strange inhabitants before Littlejohn wrapped up the affair.