While a fun run for charity is taking place at the Grange, Mrs Peacock's new fiancé is the centre of attention - and this is even more so when it transpires that the Count was not quite who he claimed to be. But who killed him?

A local landowner has a scheme for filling in the Arlington village pond to build a night club. The ""Stop the Disco!"" action group is to see him at the Grange to confront him with its objections, but there is a fatal turn of events...

For three years in a row, Elizabeth Peacock and Vivienne Scarlet have triumphed in the Arlington Bridge Trophy Competition. With the aim of dethroning the champions, Professor Plum brings in his acquaintances the Hopes, a pair of card-sharps. However, the Hopes become too hopeful of immediate hard cash, and one of them goes suddenly to an early reward in the great beyond.

Elizabeth Peacock has invited Peregrine Talbot-Wheeler (an expert on art and the presenter of a television programme about antiques) to value some of her possessions. In his last few seconds on earth, did Peregrine get a brief chance to conduct his final assessment on a Billiard Cue, an Antique Pistol, a Sword, a Bow Tie, or a curious Paperweight?

The local Member of Parliament has died, and Mrs Peacock hosts a wake at Arlington Grange. Michael Mustard and Peter Plum's employer, Chapman, are among those bidding to be selected for the vacant parliamentary seat. Chapman quickly begins to indulge himself in a little blackmail in pursuit of victory, and his demise is surely no great mystery...

At a Fete at the Grange, an unidentified visitor in a dragon-suit is found to be Kirkbride, Elizabeth Peacock's private detective - but what was he doing there and why did sudden death arrive under his very nose?

Richard Forrest is Mrs Peacock's guest for Christmas dinner. His father, a retired judge, is the previous owner of Arlington Grange, and Richard hopes to get the estate back for himself. It transpires that several of those present have appeared in the dock before Judge Forrest, and Forrest Junior has blackmail in mind. A dead body, predictably, is soon discovered - but it isn't Forrest's, it's the body of Ken, the chauffeur. All must soon be revealed...