Meet the famous Australian author Aidan de Brune and his latest mystery The Murders at Madlands. Eight persons are assembled in the dining room of the palatial home of Sir Rupert Haffervale, Sydneys business magnate.
The occasion is the formal handing over of control of a huge trust to Sir Ruperts niece and heiress on her coming of age. At noon, as the knight is about to conduct his niece to the head of the table he falls forward with a bullet through his heart.