Virginia has even managed to tell herself that this is a useful trait, that because Felix is such a scoundrel, he has a special genius for sniffing out other people's lies, and this makes him a good detective. And perhaps he is, but there's no denying that when awful things happen, Felix is often nearby. The latest awfulness is a local writer shot dead on the eve of her engagement—and right on time, Felix has turned up, like a charming, well-dressed, bad penny.