A young provincial doctor told Peter Wimsey a mysterious story about how he lost his practice due to a strange criminal case… Three years ago he refused to sign a certificate of natural death for a wealthy old lady. A professional criminal was clearly at work—no traces of a murder were found… He told—then disappeared. Without giving his name or address. However, detective Wimsey and his friend Parker are intrigued like never before. The investigation promises to be scorching! One perfect murder (natural death—no digging) follows another. Under suspicion is a man of an elaborate mind, a wild imagination, and cruelty so chilling it freezes the blood…