Abstract: Horrified to find her old friend Dorothy Pengelly dead, Rose Trevelyan refuses to believe it is suicide. But why would anyone want to murder the elderly, harmless Dorothy? Dorothy's house contained some valuable paintings - is it possible that her avaricious daughter-in-law had a hand in hastening her demise? Or is her death in some way connected with the visit of a stranger earlier in the week? Despite receiving threatening telephone calls, Rose is determined to find out the truth, and in so doing, uncovers the sordid secrets of a small Cornish community...