Carole Seddon and her bohemian neighbor Jude find that even the cultured can be crass when it comes to murder. The life of noted man of letters Esmond Chadleigh--poet, children₂s author, essayist, fantasist--is celebrated in the halls of Bracketts House. However, despite the efforts of the house's trustees, most of Chadleigh's work remains out of print, leaving the once famous literary figure out of sight and out of mind and Bracketts out of funds. An American literature professor with a big interest in Chadleigh--and an even bigger bankroll from the university where she's tenured--can keep Bracketts running, in exchange for assistance on her Chadleigh biography. But the mistrustful trustees are afraid the biographer is only interested in rooting out the skeletons in Chadleigh's closet--especially after uncovering one in his garden. Now, Carole and Jude must risk tarnishing the sterling reputation of a beloved author to learn whether his sword was mightier than his pen.