Walter Huff, an insurance salesman, is seduced by Phyllis Nirdlinger, a scheming femme fatale, into a plot to murder her husband and collect on his life insurance policy.

Cain's novel is a classic example of noir, exploring themes of greed, betrayal, and the dark side of the American Dream.

Told from Walter's perspective, the story unfolds as a confession, creating a sense of inevitability and doom.