在这部林尼探案集：血色报酬犯罪/悬疑片中,一部具有先驱精神的剧本在苏格兰郊区的小屋面世，然而一夜之间剧本的作家就被残忍的杀害了。Lynley深爱的Helen很不幸的成为了众多嫌疑犯中的一个。Lynley会不会因为自己的私人感情而影响他做出判断呢？
Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) and Sergeant Havers (Sharon Small) are sent to a remote Scottish mansion house, the home of Sir Stuart Stinhurst (Ronald Pickup), to investigate the violent death of a famous playwright whilst she was helping to rehearse a production of her new play. Initial investigation reveals that practically anybody could have committed the crime but everybody appears to have a convincing alibi and nobody has a motive. As the investigation continues an apparent nearby suicide begins to have a bearing on the case and Lynley believes that is wasn't suicide. The arrival of a new guest, Helen Clyde (Lesley Vickerage), a former girlfriend of Lynley's who is now a lover of one of the main suspects starts to cloud his judgement and raise Havers' suspicions. As the real motives begin to appear and the dark pasts of some of the guests are revealed will Lynley catch the double murderer?
