In a remote village on the edge of Dartmoor, heavy snow isolates a group of residents during a séance at Sittaford House. The table-turning session produces a message claiming that Captain Trevelyan, the house's owner currently staying in nearby Exehampton, has been murdered. Despite the blizzard, Major Burnaby treks six miles to investigate and finds the Captain's body exactly as predicted. When internal secrets of the local households emerge, the police arrest Trevelyan’s nephew. This prompts the suspect’s fiancé, Emily Trefusis, to launch her own investigation alongside a local journalist to find the real killer.
This mystery suits readers who enjoy amateur sleuthing and cold, atmospheric settings. It appeals to those interested in how logic competes with supernatural claims and the breakdown of social pretenses under pressure. The reader finishes the book with a clear understanding of the mechanics of an alibi and the ways physical limitations, like deep snow and distance, shape a criminal investigation. It provides a technical puzzle centered on timing and the manipulation of group psychology during a perceived paranormal event.
Clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1931
- Language
- EN
