A delicious, classic country-house mystery. Sir Henry Ancred, a celebrated Shakespearian actor, has arranged to have his portrait painted by Agatha Troy wife of Inspector Roderick Alleyn. She's rather glad to be stepping out of Alleyn's shadow, and when Ancred is killed at his own birthday party, Troy tries sleuthing on her own. But she's got a family full of suspects to contend with, and is pleased at last to hand things over to Alleyn.