British sleuth Patrick Dawlish must unravel fraud, arson, and murder in a case that proves there's no insurance against human nature.

Sir Mortimer Kittle died after mistakenly eating poisonous fungi instead of mushrooms, , his demise ruled death by natural causes. His cousin, a struggling insurance agent with a family in Kensington, has inherited his millions. What's there to investigate? Nothing, if you're not Patrick Dawlish.

Hired by the deceased's mother, Dawlish senses something fishy, especially when someone breaks into his office. With a little further investigation, Dawlish comes up with three potential motives for murder: the Kensington Kittle's windfall, insurance fraud, or stock market rigging. But Dawlish only needs one reason to declare open warfare on those he suspects of foul play: the kidnapping of his wife. And no criminal has ever withstood the wrath of Patrick Dawlish when he's been wronged . . .