"One glance at her not quite closed eyes was enough for him; that, and the strong smell of almonds which arose from her. The old lady was dead - had died under his very eyes."

Has Mr. Ambrose Chitterwick witnessed suicide or murder at the Piccadilly Palace Hotel? Chief Inspector Moresby of Scotland Yard believes Major Sinclair, her nephew and heir, who was taking tea with her, poisoned the old lady. And he has Chitterwick down as chief witness for the prosecution. Chitterwick finds himself drawn ever deeper into the case following a succession of unexpected twists and turns of the plot...