Latest volume in the Edgar Award-winning series. In the Southern city of Granada, Spain, bastion of the Conservative Catholic aristocracy, fear of the Red Menace is still strong in 1945. When a rich, arrogant, elderly lady is found dead and her latest will vanishes, the police must investigate. Influence is exerted to have Lieutenant Carlos Tejada transferred temporarily from Potes to take charge because the rich old lady is his great aunt. When the investigation centres on his father, the family expects Tejada to exonerate its members, but he puts duty first.