A flickering lantern casts uneasy shadows across the panelled walls of an English country inn, where a single night's gathering spirals into a chilling and confounding crime. In the heart of the 1920s, beneath a veneer of civility and comfort, suspicion seeps through every conversation and every locked door. The tension is palpable as guests and staff alike become entangled in a web of secrets, each with their own motives and alibis, while the truth remains just out of reach.
This is a golden age detective fiction that draws readers into the atmospheric world of vintage British crime, where every detail matters and every character may be hiding more than they reveal. The intricate plotting and careful pacing evoke the best traditions of the early twentieth century mystery, inviting those who appreciate a traditional whodunit book to test their wits against a puzzle worthy of the era's finest minds. The narrative unfolds with precision, balancing suspense with subtle character studies, and immersing the audience in the social nuances and quiet menace of a quintessential English mystery novel.
Fans of classic detective story conventions will find much to savour, from the carefully drawn suspects to the methodical unraveling of clues. The book stands as a testament to the artistry of women detective authors who helped shape the genre, offering both a gripping murder mystery and a window into the period's culture and anxieties. Its enduring intrigue lies in the interplay between setting and suspicion, where every creak and whispered word could be the key to uncovering the truth.
This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure. Whether for general readers, classic-library buyers, or collectors of traditional British mystery novels, this is a rare opportunity to revisit a cornerstone of golden age crime fiction in a form that honours its legacy.