Toby Flood, who almost got to play James Bond, is on his way down. His divorce to the woman he loves is almost final; his career is fading. Life isn't too bright for Toby at the moment.
He's in Brighton, doing the last few performances of a play that isn't going to make it to the big-time. Brighton just happens to be where his soon to be ex-wife lives with her new lover, the rich scion of a local industrial family. Oh woe is Toby.
He brightens when his beloved calls and asks his help. She owns a millinery in town and she is, she believes, being stalked. Toby, brave man, confronts the stalker, Derek Oswin, a local man who seems more than a bit odd. Toby extracts a promise from Derek that he will leave his almost divorced wife alone, a promise quickly broken.
Derek at first appears to have more than a few screws loose, but it turns out that he has a genius for manipulating Toby Flood. Shrewd enough to realize that Toby will do anything to regain the love of his wife, Derek maneuvers Toby into becoming his weapon against Roger Colburn, Jennifer Flood's fiance.
The Colburn family has a past and secrets to hide: secrets so dangerous that Roger will stop at nothing to keep them hidden, even if it means murder.
I won't spoil things by saying more. Suffice it to say that Robert Goddard's characters are richly endowed: if you're a fan of old British films, you'll see a young Alec Guiness playing Toby Flood. Or maybe even Michael Caine. Richard Burton would have made a perfect Roger Colburn. Every character in Goddard's book suggests its own player.
The plot and sub-plots are totally delicious. There are a number of surprises along the way and Goddard keeps things moving fast enough so that they remain surprises.
Altogether a marvelous offbeat mystery and a delightful read.
Jerry