The novel’s protagonist, Catherine, is summoned to the studio of the artist Nye, only to discover him dead. Evidence points directly to Catherine and a silver leopard statue she recently inherited from her deceased uncle. As the prime suspect, she is placed in a precarious position as Inspector McKee of the Manhattan Homicide squad investigates. McKee’s investigation takes him from downtown New York City to a rural inn in the Connecticut countryside. While the district attorney pressures McKee to arrest Catherine, the Inspector must navigate a series of twists and turns to uncover the real culprit, all while protecting the young woman from becoming the killer’s next victim. The plot includes intense manhunts and McKee’s careful police procedure as he follows the clues.
