Tim pursues his piano teacher, Miss Clanger, while trying to solve the riddle left in a note from his dead Uncle Barstable.

Dead and buried at 43! Shy, retiring Tim won't make a clean break and sets out to prove he's still as lively as a kitten.

Fenella lives on a narrow boat and runs a children's theatre. Tim is like a puppet in her hands, but who's pulling the strings?