Hodgkiss is a cranky old sod. The continual sniping and point-scoring between him and his son-in-law, Detective Sergeant Donald Burke, drives his daughter Esme to distraction. Hodgkiss compensates for his obnoxious treatment of Donald by helping him to solve a series of baffling crimes, thus giving a boost to his son-in-law's career. But it is towards the incompetent and corrupt Kanundda Council that Hodgkiss directs the most venomous products of his bile. Hodgkiss's letter-writing campaigns in the columns of the local newspaper, The Northern Star, create big problems for the dodgy councillors. And when disgruntled council employees begin leaking embarrassing information to Hodgkiss, the trouble starts big-time. Murderous mayors, cowardly councillors and manipulative staff weave their way through plots involving sudden death, blackmail, corruption and, of course, sex. A murdered body in a locked room - but how did the killer escape?