Jonas Shenk has died. His brother has kept his corpse in the basement of Grim House, but the police have finally found it out. For the sake of public health the body must be declared dead and removed. Dr. Watson's thoughts were on holiday carolling and celebrations of the year drawing to its end, but the Yard's job-offer is a welcome bit of income. Before long it becomes clear that there is something very, very wrong with Grim House, and it will take Sherlock Holmes to see all of it...