Rose has news for Celia: she is due to have a baby by Celia's husband, Humphrey. Soon after, the seeds of scandal bear a criminal fruit when a body is discovered in Little Venice along with Rose's handbag. Celia drafts in an old flame, Will, to root out the truth from suspicions of murder and blackmail, as the evidence starts to converge on the patrons and strange goings-on of the seedy Chelsea club, 'The Odd Flamingo'.

First published in 1954, this was one of two gritty and atmospheric crime novels written by the accomplished children's author Nina Bawden.