The emancipated Mrs. Bradley attends her ex-husband's funeral and segues to the estate of her paralyzed goddaughter, who is hosting an engagement party.

Visiting her alma mater, Hadleigh Heights, to give an address, Mrs. Bradley finds herself investigating the death of Miss Ferris, who is found in her dressing room just prior to her appearance in the student production of the Mikado. Mrs. Bradley and her chauffeur George suspect that the dead woman may have had a secret lover, in the form of another member of staff, likely female. They also learn that a member of staff has changed their identity. When a second member of staff dies, supposedly by suicide, Mrs. Bradley looks to the students for a solution.

Mrs. Bradley is asked by Insp. Henry Christmas to help investigate the murder of a member of a traveling circus. The woman, who appeared as the human target in the knife throwing act, was stabbed to death and stumbled onto the stage. The police soon arrest the knife thrower but Mrs. Bradley isn't convinced they've got the right man. There is a good deal of animosity towards the travelers from amongst the villagers and she believes that is where the killer will be found. Two additional murders point her and chauffeur George in the right direction.

Mrs. Bradley decides to visit her old friend Isobel Marchmont, but soon after her arrival realizes that not all is well. Her friend's daughter Lacey Prideux is pregnant again having given birth only in the last year and the servants are familiar. When the cook is poisoned, Mrs. Bradley and George must first determine the secrets of the house but are unable to do so until before two more of the occupants are killed. George realizes that Douglas Prideux commanded his late brother who died in World War I and has a number of questions he wants answered.

Mrs. Bradley and chauffeur George visit a seaside village to wish Inspector Christmas a happy retirement and find themselves investigating the murder of Chastity Baines, the daughter of Reverend Baines. Wrapped around the dead girl's neck is a worsted viper with her ring stuffed in its mouth. The circumstances remind Mrs. Bradley of her first case involving a cult led by Black Jack Briggs that killed virgins. George's daughter lives in the villages and he is shocked to learn that his daughter is engaged to be married. Things become serious when she is kidnapped and may be the cult's next victim.