The third book in the Inspector Knowles series sees Knowles and Sergeant Barnes investigating why the wrong person died on a murder/mystery excursion on a steam train. It seems more than one person wanted the victim dead and the question is: who murdered Major Harkness in full view of 24 people without any of them noticing?
As with the Goat Parva Murders and the Manton Rempville Murders, Knowles and Barnes work tirelessly to see through the smokescreens placed in their path. The clues point this way and then that way. More than one person is disappointed to find out they didn't kill the Major before Knowles and Barnes track down the real murderer.
Characters from previous books are reintroduced such as Carly Waferr, the magic mushroom lady, who was hired to provide the catering for the excursion train, and Adelaide Hills the owner of Bingo the retriever, who makes his usual significant contribution to the investigation.
The verbal sparring of Knowles and Barnes is once again to the fore in this fast-paced ride through the lovely, but dangerous English countryside.