Adrian Messenger's death in the waters of the Atlantic leaves behind a list of ten unaffiliated names in the hands of the Yard, as well as the suspicion of murder. But since the ten men prove to have predeceased him, all also accidentally, the connecting link is also the missing link to what Anthony Gethryn calls the Abominable No-Man. Through Messenger's mumbled last words, a common factor is eventually established and leads to a motive and a murderer.... An opulent entertainment, plotted with tremendous versatility and pursued with real verve.