The Dirty Duck

The tranquility of Shakespeare's beloved Stratford-upon-Avon is shattered when Miss Gwendolyn Bracegirdle, a tourist from Sarasota, Florida, is found brutally murdered just moments after leaving 'The Dirty Duck' pub. Her throat slashed 'ear to ear,' the only immediate clue is a chilling couplet from an unknown poem scrawled across a theatre program. Scotland Yard's Superintendent Richard Jury, initially in Stratford for a personal rendezvous with Lady Kennington, is drawn into the grisly case, finding himself plunged into a world where classical literature intertwines with modern-day malice. As more American tourists become targets of the enigmatic 'razor-happy murderer,' Jury and his aristocratic sidekick, Melrose Plant, must unravel a complex web of motives, secrets, and literary allusions. The investigation peels back layers of Stratford's charming facade, revealing hidden animosities and unexpected connections. 'The Dirty Duck' is a masterful blend of classic British detective work, quirky characters, and a distinctive literary flair, challenging Jury to decipher not just who committed the crimes, but the poetic meaning behind them before the killer strikes again.