Bookseller Theodore Terhune buys the substantial library of recently deceased James Strudgewick, a wealthy Yorkshireman who drowned at a local beauty spot. Deemed anaccidental death by the coroner, the locals remain suspicious, and dislike Strudgewicks nephew and heir. But Ronald Strudgewick has a cast-iron alibi - he was 30 miles away visiting with friend Robert Shilling in Thirsk at the time of his uncles death, and the police have already picked over his movements. But Terhune and his friend Julia have met Shilling before, and know there is a mysterious accidental death in his past too.