The British Secret Service has just learnt that the North Korean authorities are investigating the apparently unmotivated murder of a British citizen who was passing through their capital. The news is all the more shocking as the victim is none other than Sir Harold Wilberforce Clifton, one pf Her Majesty's most famous agents! Clifton had been sent to North Korea to bring back the nephew of a high-ranking official to the UK after he was indoctrinated by the Black Moon cult.

Although he wants to take his Cub Scouts to Wales, Heron Melomane (aka Colonel Clifton) is forced to take them to Devonshire. The reason for this change of plan: a note in his letterbox stating that WWII isn't finished yet - signed AKC 666! Decrypted by his faithful housekeeper, Miss Partridge, the message reveals plans for a mysterious meeting. The Bristish Secret Service, intrigued by this note, chose Clifton to sort out this mystery. But Clifton is unaware that MI5 sent a new agent to protect him, just in case...

A simple errand turns into a car accident, and Clifton bangs his head and blacks out. An unfortunate if not uncommon occurrence, even for the dashing colonel - until he wakes up to realise that his passenger, Jade, has vanished When, the next morning, a mysterious 'doctor' calls at his house to tell him a fantastical story, the sceptical Clifton is soon dragged into a very unusual investigation. Oh, and the doctor's name? Watson.