Everyone knows that ex-Chief Inspector Rose is writing his memoirs, but few know he keeps putting off its start. Meanwhile, Rose is anonymously threatened with death if he dares to includes the "Bomber Bolt" case in the memoirs.
Someone is frantically seeking to contact ex-Chief Inspector Rose, to pass across information he believes will finally settle an outstanding murder case.
An old friend of Rose is accused of murder, and Rose springs to his defense. This incurs the displeasure, if not wrath, of his old enemy Inspector Entwistle, who is in charge of the case.
Rose accepts the gift of a luxury cruise only to find retired colleagues from the French and American police forces similarly present. Amazingly, a mutually known jewel thief is himself a passenger too.
Rose finds himself enmeshed in unsavory implications of the "Brazzoni Case", and although those around him are alarmed, Rose remains unperturbed as he knows such a case never existed in the first place.
Ex-convict Maxton suddenly reappears in ex-Chief Inspector Rose's life, but his purpose for doing so is uncertain. Is he here to make a final confession - or is he here under false pretenses and seeking revenge instead?
An old con man and thief, just out of prison, attempts to blackmail Rose because he claims to be Miss Lamb's father. Surprisingly, he's invited to move in and Rose even recommends him for a lucrative position.
A stranger reveals to Rose that he has been blackmailing a criminal long sought by Rose, and now that his funds are exhausted, will sell Rose his whereabouts as a reward. But all looks different when the hunted man is killed.
A beautiful girl turns up at ex-Chief Inspector Rose's house, and announces to the consternation of all but Rose, that she plans to stay. The concerns are justified, as soon, Rose finds himself implicated in a murder.
Drusilla has mysteriously disappeared and Rose and Halifax set out to find her. Halifax is soon frustrated at Rose's apparent casual approach to it all, but Rose is indeed heading into danger unawares.
Rose's publisher Chinnery has gotten himself into trouble through the wiles of a beautiful girl. Soon, Halifax is similarly compromised, and then, even Drusilla - or perhaps these last two misfortunes are Rose's machinations.
