 Barnaby and Troy investigate the death of Agnes Gray, a middle-aged resident of Ferne Basset whose body is found floating in the river. The autopsy reveals that she was suffering from advanced cancer, but she was beaten to death with a metal bar. The police find her home ransacked and her clothes shredded. They also learn that she lived quite frugally and gave most of her money to charities. When Agnes s cousin Esslyn Carmichael dies on stage during a performance of the local theatrical society, Barnaby must determine what hidden secret has driven someone to murder.