简介：The enigmatic vanishing of Sir Julius Hanbury, coupled with the theft of several of his risqué artworks, presents Morse with an intriguing new conundrum to unravel. Accompanied by Detective Sergeant Lewis, Morse delves into the depths of Hanbury House, interviewing every inhabitant. It is during their meticulous examination of the estate that they discover Sir Julius' lifeless form, fittingly enough, within the family's mausoleum. The forensic examiner observes that the victim suffered from a frenzied assault, yet the absence of blood at the crime scene leads law enforcement to deduce that the murder took place elsewhere.

Sir Julius, a potential successor to the prestigious position of Master at an Oxford college, was renowned for his acrimonious rivalry with another contender for the same role. The subsequent tragic death of Roger Meadows, a confidant of the Hanbury family's au pair, prompts Morse to surmise that he, too, met his demise by foul play. Jealousy, revenge, and avarice weave together as the sinister threads that tie these fatalities together.