A holiday at the famous Bertram's Hotel in London turns out to be rather eventful for Miss Marple. One of the guests is the oft married Lady Bess Sedgwick, who seems to be very friendly with racing driver Ladislaus Malinowski.
Bess's estranged daughter Elvira is also staying at Bertram's and it seems that she too knows Ladislaus rather well. Where does the rather vague Canon Pennyfather fit in with these glamorous people and why was he abducted? With her customary wisdom Jane Marple pulls together the strands of this strange puzzle.