Hodgkiss doesn't miss a trick. Three adventures of that cranky, obnoxious, insufferable but remarkably observant and astute senior citizen. Hodgkiss is persuaded to investigate the mysterious death of a boy at the very school which he had attended decades earlier. As his inquiries progress he becomes horrified at what he finds; blackmail, intimidation, attempted murder and finally murder. When a member of the notoriously corrupt Kanundda Council is found dead in a small shed near one of the council's sportsgrounds, Hodgkiss' friend Pat Strong makes a very keen observation which enables the two of them to help Detective Inspector Donald Burke bring the case to a speedy but surprising end. After playing a round of golf Hodgkiss and Detective Inspector Burke go to the change room before adjourning to the nineteenth hole. While changing Hodgkiss and Donald hear part of a conversation, meaningless in itself, and Hodgkiss sees something that enables a doubting Donald to solve a nasty killing.