She hadn't been seen since her disappearance twenty years ago, and the house had remained shut and empty - until suddenly the rumour flew all around town that Linda Graves was back...

The rumours of her return are so persistent - and certain other rumours so serious - that the quiet and scholarly Singer Batts and his ready-for-anything henchman, Joe Spinder, go visiting at the house on the hill.

Linda Graves gave them no welcome. Linda Graves couldn't - because she was dead...