The interplay of incident and personalities in Brimberley village takes in the death of Liz Artside's husband in World War I, the current outbreak of burglaries, and Liz's fears about her son, Tim, and his unexplained activities. Explosions to do away with suspected betrayers; a dust up in a London eating place; a disgustingly rich lieutenant of police lead to a most irregular untangling. Chatty and chipper.