Ellery Queen arrives at Wrightsville, USA, in search of inspiration. However, the only available lodging is a building known as the Calamity House. It was built by the Wright family, the head of the town’s social food chain (and the descendants of the founder of Wrightsville), as a wedding present for their middle daughter. But the daughter went mad after she was left at the altar, and when the Wrights tried to sell the house the buyer suddenly dropped dead while touring the home—hence the “Calamity House” moniker. Sensing dark currents underneath the seeming idyllic Wrightsville and Wright family, Ellery happily takes up the abode, and waits.