Because of a never-healed quarrel between Mike Langard's father and grandfather, 'Bregal' the house situated on the edge of large mangrove swamps, had lain empty for many years.
Now his grandfather was dead, and Mike had arrived in Gnarkona to take possession. To his astonishment, however, far from being empty, the house was full of queerly assorted guests, gathered to celebrate his homecoming. Amongst them was Inspector "Digger" Haig, Detective-Sergeant Swan, a strange personality called the Swimming Saint - and a corpse!