This is a mystery novel that revolves around the murder of Myra, Perry Heath's wife. Myra had always had money, and recently, because of an uncle's death, had inherited a lot more. No one ever caught a sign of a jarring note between husband and wife, yet no one ever saw a sign of affection. They had two house guests for a bridge party at their place; Lawrence Inman, Myra's distant cousin, and Bunny Moore. On the night of the party, Heath's marital problems come to a head when Myra asks Bunny to leave her husband alone. However, Perry also accuses her of flirting with Larry, her cousin. But she denies this saying Larry is her cousin and heir. Myra is discovered dead on the studio floor the next morning, having been struck by one of her antique bottles and Perry goes missing. To add to the mystery, Myra, a non-cosmetics user, is discovered quite painted and decorated, with the vanity box containing the cosmetics missing. Emily Prentiss couldn't sleep and noticed lights in the night while watching the Heath home out her window when the murder occurred. Todhunter Buck, her nephew, decides to solve the crime on his own and teams up with Alexander Cunningham, who has been appointed by the Country Club and is also curious about where their member Heath has gone. Police Detective Mott questions people without success, so Buck calls in an old friend, private detective Steve Truitt.