In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, 12 year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. She is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.