A precious golden souvinier has disappered from Kismuil Castle in the Island of Barra. The historic brooch was given as a gift by the Chief of Clanranald to MacNeil of Barra in the 16th century. Or perhaps it was treasure found from a shipwrecked galleon from the Spanish Armada...

The local constable, P.C. Murdo set outs to find who dunnit. He has seven suspects, but in his search for the truth of the theft discovers that suspicion and prejudice make poor detectives. Help comes from smart officers from the mainland, whose most difficult challenge is Murdo himself.

In this short, humorous novel mystery and psychology are lightly mixed, revealing that folk's actions and characters are as contradictory as they are complex. PC Murdo would find himself at home in both Whisky Galore and in Para Handy. The novel is a compassionate examination of how attitudes predicate actions which make or break communities.