Miles Bredon

Holidaying in a country inn, wealthy Jephthah Mottram dies, poisoned by gas. But Mr Mottram was insured with the massive Indescribable Insurance Company, under its famously extravagant Euthanasia policy: with half a million pounds payable on death... except in the case of death by suicide. The Indescribable's somewhat desultory private detective, Miles Bredon, along with his wife Angela, is sent to investigate. Was Mottram's death suicide, or something more sinister?

Two cousins, Derek and Nigel Burtell, famously detest one another. Derek Burtell stands to inherit £50,000 under the will of his grandfather at age 25—unless his drug-taking and dissolute lifestyle kill him first, in which case Nigel inherits instead. Dismayed by the latter possibility, Derek's many creditors insure his life with the vast Indescribable Insurance company, and Derek is advised to take a river trip for his health; and curiously it is Nigel whom he chooses to accompany him.