In Josephine Tye's novel One Shilling for Candles, we meet Christine Clay, a movie star rising in Hollywood. She returns to England to spend her vacation at the seaside, but the recreation turns into tragedy when her body is discovered drowned in water. It soon becomes clear that her death was not an accident but a planned murder. All eyes turn to Robert Tisdall, an acquaintance of hers, who is fleeing suspicion. But the story takes an interesting turn when Erica, the police superintendent's daughter, begins to help Tisdall prove his innocence. As events escalate, Inspector Alan Grant becomes suspicious of more people close to Christine, including her husband Sir Edward Chains and her brother Herbert, who has inherited only a shilling of her fortune. As Grant explores the clues to the crime, hidden secrets are revealed that threaten the lives of everyone involved. With each discovery, tensions rise and surprises unfold, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. Who is Christine's real killer? This is the surprise that Grant eventually reveals, making the novel a thrilling experience of mystery and suspense.