After the war, a young veteran and two indistinguishable twins return to a small New England valley where an aging relative has erected an ostentatious hilltop estate that provokes local resentment. The narrative traces clashes between townsfolk and outsiders, a fierce storm that precipitates danger at the unfinished mansion, and a mystery of theft and violence that draws in police and neighbors. Romantic entanglements and cases of mistaken identity complicate the inquiry, while a collie’s behavior supplies a decisive clue that helps disentangle loyalties and reveal truths before the community confronts the aftermath.