Carolus Deene, history master at Queen's School, Newminster, manages on
the side to dabble in the art of gentlemanly detective work. In Leo
Bruce's beloved A Bone and a Hank of Hair, Deene is approached by Mrs.
Chalk, who is convinced her heiress cousin has been murdered. The
suspect is, of course, Mr. Rathbone, the lady's wily widower. On the way
to the truth, Deene encounters a host of friendly characters and oafish
constabulary, leading readers in a delightful romp through the English
landscape.