George Drayton, a retired publisher, lives a quiet life in Knightswood Square, London. Every morning he sits on his favorite bench, reading detective novels and observing his neighbors. When a scream pierces the afternoon air, Drayton's keen observations lead him to suspect murder at Mrs. Heatherington's flat. Half-washed windows, a forgotten bouquet of roses, and a missing window cleaner set off alarm bells.Acting on instinct, Drayton alerts the authorities, saving Mrs. Heatherington's life and solving a year-old murder mystery. His methodical deductions prove that sometimes the keenest detective work happens from an afternoon bench in a London square.