Within an hour or two the dead bodies of two elderly ladies are discovered in the vicinity of Buddington-on-the-Hill; both had been strangled. Each is found lying full-length, clasping in her hand the stem of Madonna lily. The work of a maniac? Two murderers working together? It's up to Carolous Deene to find out. Enough clever little twists to puzzle even the seasoned mystery reader who will recognise Leo Bruce as a master of the genre.