After distinguished service in the First World War, Richard Hannay settles down with his wife Mary and their son. However, news comes to him of three kidnappings. With no more than a few tantalisingly cryptic lines of verse as clues, he is soon on the trail of Dominick Medina - a charismatic polymat...

After distinguished service in the First World War, Richard Hannay settles down with his wife Mary and their son. However, news comes to him of three kidnappings. With no more than a few tantalisingly cryptic lines of verse as clues, he is soon on the trail of Dominick Medina - a charismatic polymath but a man 'utterly and consumedly wicked'.