The Rasp

In the tranquil, yet deceptively sinister, setting of a country estate, the esteemed cabinet minister John Hoode is brutally murdered in his library, bludgeoned to death with a wood-rasp. Scotland Yard, with seemingly open-and-shut evidence, quickly zeroes in on Hoode’s secretary, Alan Deacon, as the prime suspect. However, the arrival of the brilliant ex-secret service agent and occasional journalist, Anthony Gethryn, casts a shadow of doubt over the official narrative. Tasked with covering the sensational crime, Gethryn becomes convinced of Deacon's innocence, sensing a deeper, more intricate conspiracy at play. What follows is a masterful investigation where every potential culprit possesses an unshakeable alibi, forcing Gethryn to untangle a web of secrets, deceit, and misdirection. As he delves deeper into the lives of the household, Gethryn must employ his sharp intellect and unconventional methods to expose the true killer hiding in plain sight, ensuring justice is served in this perplexing and ingenious Golden Age whodunit.