The mill contains an early water turbine dating from 1820 and spans the River Tern.
The story is set in the fictional village of Great Minden on the day of its annual Feast (or fair) where RAF veteran Peplow arrives to seek retribution for the death of his son.
Hetty Beauchamp comes across several characters from Carr's other novels in the boarding house in which she lives, including Emma Foxberrow, a teacher in The Harpole Report and Edward Peplow, from A Day in Summer.