Hector Bliss, ex-officer, ex-teacher, ex-husband, ex-father, and general ex-has-been, is offered a job that is cushy, congenial, and overpaid, in the south of France in summertime. So what is wrong with it? His fellow-employee, Dr. Constance Marshall, is not happy about it either, but will not tell him why.
And why too is it about evil philanthropists, ex-Nazis, Polish tennis-players, adopted children, and dumb blondes from Earlsfield? What has the fortieth anniversary of D-Day got to do with it?
Luckily, Hector has two resourceful brothers and a unique aunt to help him tackle these questions. Nevertheless, before he and Connie can find the answers, they have to contemplate extreme measures.