Pamela Mitford's 18th birthday party ends in tragedy as cruel, charismatic Adrian Curtis is pushed to his death from the bell tower of the church neighbouring the Mitford home. The police quickly identify the killer as a maid, Dulcie, who is discovered to be a member of a notorious gang of female thieves. But Louisa Cannon, chaperone to the Mitford girls and a former criminal herself, believes Dulcie to be innocent, and alongside Pamela and Nancy Mitford, sets out to clear the girl's name. A Golden Age-style mystery - second in the series.