The Affair Of... Mysteries
4 total works
The Earl of Burford can't believe his luck; Rex Ransom, his favourite star from the 'talkies', and his hot-shot producer, Haggermeir, want to film their next feature at Alderley, the family's seventeenth-century country estate. Somewhat less enthusiastic is the Countess, who suddenly finds herself hosting an impromptu house party for the incoming Hollywood crowd. It's almost too much for poor Merryweather, the family's imperturbable butler, to cope with. And that's before there's a murder in the dead of night - By morning Inspector Wilkins of the Westshire Constabulary is cast in the unlikely role of hero, as he tiptoes through the evidence and endeavours to unravel the slightly batty, thoroughly baffling mystery - and work out just what a mutilated mink coat has to do with anything.
After the two last house parties, Lord Burford's misgivings about guests were understandable. After all, the "unfortunate incidents" which had taken place had been murders. But, these people were travelling a long way for the funeral of an elderly relative. There was nowhere else for them to stay, so the Earl really had to offer them accommodation at Alderley, the Burfords' Carolean mansion. Things started to go wrong when one of guests claimed she had knowledge that would ruin the others' reputations. But, nobody took that seriously. Until, that is, she was found murdered...Lord Burford had never been so relieved as when Chief Inspector Wilkins arrived. Again!
The theft of the diamond necklace and the antique pistols might all be explained, but the body in the lake - that was a puzzle. "Don't expect me to solve anything," Inspector Wilkens announced modestly when he arrived to sort out the unpleasantness. And at a house party that included English aristocracy, foreign agents in disguise, a ravishing baroness, a daring jewel thief, a Texas millionaire, and of course, the imperturbable butler, it was going to take some intricate sleuthing to uncover who killed whom and why...
'A triumph of ingenuity. Excellent escapism' Sunday Telegraph
- The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy
The theft of the diamond necklace and the antique pistols might all be explained, but the body in the lake - that really was a puzzle. For Inspector Wilkins, it was going to take some intricate sleuthing to uncover who killed whom and why.
- The Affair of the Mutilated Mink
An impromtu Hollywood party at the Alderley country estateprove too much for the family's butler, Merryweather. And that's before the murder in the middle of the night...
- The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks
When Lord Burford reluctantly agrees to host his relatives at Alderley, he soon finds out that family can be murder. It isn't long before Inspector Wilkins has to be called in ... yet again.
'If you half-close your eyes you can almost smell Poirot or Miss Marple shuffling through the pages' Daily Sport
- The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy
The theft of the diamond necklace and the antique pistols might all be explained, but the body in the lake - that really was a puzzle. For Inspector Wilkins, it was going to take some intricate sleuthing to uncover who killed whom and why.
- The Affair of the Mutilated Mink
An impromtu Hollywood party at the Alderley country estateprove too much for the family's butler, Merryweather. And that's before the murder in the middle of the night...
- The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks
When Lord Burford reluctantly agrees to host his relatives at Alderley, he soon finds out that family can be murder. It isn't long before Inspector Wilkins has to be called in ... yet again.
'If you half-close your eyes you can almost smell Poirot or Miss Marple shuffling through the pages' Daily Sport