A Max Rydal mystery -Head of 26 Section Special Investigation Branch, Max Rydal, and his deputy, Sergeant Major Tom Black, are called to investigate a brutal attack on a young boy at a fancy-dress party. Meanwhile, security must be tightened ahead of a chess convention, and Max is soon caught up in a case which offers little light relief, until he is introduced to one of the competing chess players, the glamorous Livya Cordwell . . .