Christmas 1938. The Westbury family and assorted friends have gathered together for another legendary Christmas at the family seat in Sussex. The champagne flows, the family silver sparkles and upstairs the bedrooms are made up ready for their occupants. But one bed will lie empty that night. Come Christmas morning David Campbell-Scott is found lying in the snow, crimson staining the white around him. A hunting rifle is lying beside him and there's only one set of footprints, but something doesn't seem right to amateur sleuth Hugh Gaveston. Campbell-Scott had just returned from the East with untold wealth - why would he kill himself? Hugh sets out to investigate.