Slight mourning

Following a car crash in the county of Calleshire, the post mortem initially reveals a ruptured aorta as the cause of death of wealthy landowner Bill Fent. But a lethal quantity of barbituate found in his blood implies a more sinister demise ... he was poisoned at his own dinner party.

The list of suspects is easy enough for Inspector C.D. "Seedy" Sloan to establish -- twevle guests, all of them relatives, friends or neighbours. And with a disputed property deal in Constance Parva dividing the guests just as it had split the whole village, both sides had good reasons to ensure Mr Fent swung his allegiance to their cause. But who would resort to extreme measures, even murder, to get their way? Inspector Sloan's insight and experience will surely come to bear upon the killer ...