Ivy is a beautiful but ambitious young woman who married an idler, Jervis Lexton for his family money. However, through the fault of Jervis and his gambling father, the Lextons have become quite poor and the young Ivy became quite frustrated with her impoverished husband. Before he has a chance to bounce back on his feet Jervis dies from a mysterious illness and there is a suspicion that he has been poisoned.

Marie Lowndes Belloc (1868-1947) was a prolific English novelist, and sister of author Hilaire Belloc. Active from 1898 until her death, she had a literary reputation for combining exciting incidents with psychological interest. Lowndes Belloc produced mainly mysteries, well-plotted and on occasion based on real-life crime, though she herself resented being classed as a crime writer. Her best known work is The Lodger, a haunting mystery tale that revolves around the Jack the Ripper murders.