Accidental death-by-dart, or murder?

At the Plume of Feathers in south Devon one midsummer evening, eight people are gathered together in the tap-room. After an evening of friendly darts and vintage brandy, a distinguished, although amorous, barrister is in no condition to drive-or walk. The poor fellow's expired, leaving one less lawyer in the world. Everyone in the cozy pub swears that the untimely death was caused by a dart that punctured the victim's finger. But to inspector Roderick Alleyn, the accident was really a case of murder.

A distinguished painter, a celebrated actor, a woman graduate, a plump lady from County Clare, and a Devonshire farmer all play their parts in the unraveling of the problem.