Accident . . . or murder? Detective Inspector Hardcastle's seemingly
simple investigation turns more complicated, in his latest case
June 1918. A patrolling constable discovers the body of Georgina Cheney,
wife of a naval commander, in the basement area of a house in
Westminster. At first it is thought to be suicide or even a tragic
accident. But as Divisional Detective Inspector Ernest Hardcastle of the
A or Whitehall Division of the Metropolitan Police begins to
investigate - ably assisted by Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott -
they soon discover a different story. It is clear that the woman was
murdered, and revelations about the victim's previous life in Malta
arouse Hardcastle's interest.
But things are destined to get even more complicated for Hardcastle,
when he is assigned two further murder cases by Detective Chief
Inspector Frederick Wensley, head of the CID at New Scotland Yard. Could
they be connected? This may be a puzzle too tricky even for Hardcastle
to solve . . .