When horror novelist Sebastian Tombs is found lying dead with a knife in his back, Tessa and Steve must investigate the four people closest to him, each of whom has a strong motive for committing the murder.
Sebastian Tombs is celebrating the sale of the film rights of his latest horror novel. Sebastian "lives" his genre, from the decor in his apartment, to his belief in the beneficial effects of black humour. His guests are forced to listen, in darkness, to taped readings of the latest chapter of his work. After such a reading, the lights come up, and Sebastian is lying dead, a knife in his back.