The police are puzzled when it seems a retired colleague of Ventress and Blaketon's has become the unlikely victim of vandalism. Suspicions are soon aroused over the reasons for his sudden return to the village and his connection to a prominent judge who is staying at Ashfordly Hall. Meanwhile, Vernon encounters dangerous wildlife as he stashes his capital in Ashfordly woods following a visit from the Inland Revenue, but decides to turn the incident into another money-making scheme, leading the entrepreneur into further peril.

A seemingly straightforward burglary enquiry takes an unexpected turn when the victim is found to be leading a double life and suspicions are raised that the break-in could have been part of an insurance fraud. Meanwhile, Blaketon falls for the charms of a lady solicitor and teams up with Ventress to help her track down the beneficiaries of an unusual bequest, but the ageing detectives struggle to work in a partnership, and when David is recruited as their driver, he finds himself acting as peacemaker.