Sir John Phillips, the Harley Street Surgeon, and his beautiful nurse Jane Harden are almost too nervous to operate. The emergency case on the table before them is the Home Secretary - and both have very good, personal reasons to wish him dead. Within hours he does die. Although the operation itself was a complete success.....

The setting is idyllic.....a luxury island mansion in an unspoilt New Zealand wilderness. The party-goers are glamorous....they include a world-famous opera soprano, her millionaire 'companion', the artistic elite of three continents - and the distinguished detective, Alleyn of The Yard.