Skeletal detective Skulduggery Pleasant is on a case. He believes Gordon Edgley was murdered by dark forces, Stephanie Edgley, Gordon's niece, is also doing a little detective work as she tries to figure out why her uncle would leave all his possessions to her instead of the rest of her family, Nefarian Serpine wants something from the Edgley estate and he will do anything to get it. Fireballs, bullets, and black magic are the weapons used in this war between good and evil.