Murder and mayhem strike when a small group of people are confined to an island in the middle of a New Zealand lake in one of Ngaio Marsh's last - and best - novels.

The luxury mansion on New Zealand's Lake Waihoe was the ideal place for the world-famous soprano to rest after her triumphant tour. Chief Superintendent Alleyn and his wife were among the house guests - but theirs was not a social visit.

When tragedy struck, the peace of the island was shattered. With a houseful of suspects, now isolated by one of the lake's sudden storms, Alleyn was to face one of his trickiest cases...