Nothing ever happens in August and tenacious sleuth Kate Shackleton deserves a break. Heading off for a long-overdue holiday to Whitby she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there. Kate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn but upon arrival discovers that Alma's daughter Felicity has disappeared leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Philips Alma's current gentleman friend. A trip to the jeweller's shop reveals a horrifying discovery... And they say nothing happens in August.