Captain Desmond Merrion of the Royal Navy goes to the little village of Brightwood for a secret interview with Wilfred Louth, a scientist who has made a discovery which may be of great importance in the successful prosecution of WWII. Mr. Louth demonstrates the invention to Merrion, who promises to arrange for a more elaborate demonstration before Admiralty experts. Soon after, Louth is killed by a mysterious explosion in his laboratory. Merrion joins with Inspector Arnold in investigating the explosion, which has certain odd factors. In Dead Stop Miles Burton has given us one of his finest stories, a mystery that certainly succeeds in mystifying.