About the book

Nathaniel Herriard, an eccentric and wealthy man, invites a group of resentful relatives to his country estate, Lexham Manor, for Christmas. The atmosphere is thick with familial hostility, particularly regarding Nathaniel’s brother, Joseph, and his financial control over the guests. During a holiday party, Nathaniel is found stabbed to death in a room that appears to be locked from the inside. Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard arrives to navigate the contradictory alibis and bitter motives while deciphering how the killer escaped the sealed crime scene.

This mystery serves readers who enjoy the intricate puzzles of Golden Age detective fiction. It appeals to those who appreciate dialogue-driven humor and a cast of distinct, often abrasive, personalities. The reader gains a lesson in deductive logic and the psychology of family dynamics. By the end, they walk away with a solution to an impossible-object mystery, having watched Hemingway dismantle the sophisticated social pretenses that the characters use to hide their secrets.

Reading profile

Practical, outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.

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