Mrs. Bradley returns to her old school to give the prestigious Evadne Flint Lecture, but the school music teacher is found dead during a performance of The Mikado. Mrs. Bradley investigates, and uncover bitter rivalries, a series of thefts, an illegitimate child, and a number of illicit affairs.

A knife-thrower's assistant with a travelling circus is found stabbed to death. At Inspector Christmas's invitation, Mrs. Bradley and her chauffeur, George, infiltrate both village and circus communities in an attempt to solve the murder.

Mrs. Bradley accompanies her chauffeur, George, to his daughter's wedding. Local fishermen discover the body of the vicar's daughter on the beach, with her hair shaved off and a worsted viper around her neck.