First, there is a skeleton in a dinner jacket. Then a corpse in a golden aeroplane.

After another body, private detective Albert Campion nearly makes a fourth... Both the skeleton and the corpse have died with suspicious convenience for Georgia Wells, a monstrous but charming actress with a raffish entourage. Georgia's best friend just happens to be Valentine, a top couturière and Campion's sister.

In order to protect Valentine, Campion must unravel a story of blackmail and ruthless murder.