The businessman Entwhistle hires Tolefree, a private detective, to spy on a woman holidaying in a French seaside village and report back on who speaks to her. Tolefree and his associate Farrar are held up on their return by fog in the Channel, and arrive at Entwhistle's house to find him murdered and the police in attendance. Tolefree is invited to help in the investigation.

There is a confusion of motives: a potential divorce; a great deal of cash; a will that is about to be changed. The friends and associates present at Entwhistle's house on the night of the murder are all suspects, as is the elusive man who communicated with the woman in France. Everyone is hiding something.

An entertaining mystery, with a breezy tone and a traditionally know-all detective. ( )

A Mr.Entwhiste sees his family off for vacation and then gets murdered. My recollections of this story are vague. I know at one time the family collection included another Walling I seem to have mislaid. ( )