Innocent House is a mock-Venetian palace occupied by Britain's oldest book publisher, Peverell Press. After a spate of malicious pranks, the ruthless managing director, Gerard Etienne, is found dead, the office mascot, a stuffed snake, jammed in his mouth. Who wanted Etienne dead? Just about everyone on staff - and several authors, too.

Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team are confronted with a puzzle of extraordinary ingenuity as they begin to probe the dark, private tragedies of Etienne's mistress and colleagues. But the mystery at Innocent House may prove too deep, too old, and too evil to stop at just one death...