Two days before an auction of the contents of High Gates House in Borrow dale,Christopher Henderson bumps into Jennifer Reade, the heir to the entireestate, and the expected recipient of the proceeds of the house clearance sale.She discovers a dead man in the cellar of the house but threatens and cajolesChristopher into remaining silent about it until after the auction to avoidcomplications and delays. The auction begins but is soon halted by the police with the news that amurder has been committed. Simmy, Christopher's wife and amateur sleuth,applies herself to the mystery of the deaths but not everyone is as theyappear and Simmy will have to contend with a ruthless and determined killer inher fight for the truth.