Synopsis

Amidst the somber backdrop of WWII in 1943, the Kent military hospital Heron's Park becomes the stage for a chilling series of murders. It begins with the inexplicable death of postman Joseph Higgins during surgery, a year after he delivered the fateful acceptance letters to the very staff now under suspicion. His demise, initially dismissed as a tragic accident, quickly escalates into a full-blown murder investigation when a second, equally suspicious death occurs. Trapped within the confines of the hospital by an air raid, the astute yet cantankerous Inspector Cockrill arrives to unravel the complex web of secrets, rivalries, and hidden pasts among the close-knit group of four nurses and three doctors. With a killer lurking within their ranks, Cockrill faces a tense and claustrophobic challenge, navigating a masterclass of red herrings and tricky twists in a true Golden Age whodunit where anyone could be the culprit.

Critical Reception

"Praised as a 'masterclass of red herrings and tricky twists,' this novel stands as one of the quintessential Golden Age detective stories, often compared favorably to the works of Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr."

Adaptations

Film (1947), Television (1983 BBC adaptation).

Metadata

ISBN:9781728267685
Pages:263
Age Rating:All Ages

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