Set in 1950s Britain, an annual ritual dance held on the winter solstice. The winter solstice is nearing, and South Mardian is preparing for its local mummery play that the community has held on Sword Wednesday for centuries, passing along the music and dance.

Dame Alice Mardian is greatly displeased by the presence of an outsider, Mrs. Bunz, a folklore specialist, because the people of South Mardian want to keep things local. Dr. Otterly plays the fiddle for the dance, William Andersen, the local blacksmith known locally as “the Guiser,” plays the Fool, while his five sons (Dan, Andy, Nat, Chris, and Ernie, whose initials together spell “dance”) play the five sons of the dance. Ernie, who is “not quite right in the head,” has long wanted to play the Fool, and it seems he will get his wish when he produces a note from the Geiser, who has been sick, saying that he can’t go on. They all do the routine, which ends with a mock decapitation of the Fool by the swords of all five sons. When it comes time for the Fool to rise, Ernie laughs hysterically, “Blood for the stone!” They discover that not only is the Geiser dead, but he has been decapitated. Inspector Alleyn of Scotland Yard becomes involved as he unravels the mysteries of the eighteenth century ceremony.

I just love these old British mysteries.