The theft of a painting takes crime-writer sleuth Donald Langham to a country house full of seething tensions, resentment and dark secrets.

November, 1956. Lord Elsmere, an old friend of Donald Langham''s literary agent, Charles Elder, is in a pickle - his favourite painting, a Gainsborough, has been stolen from under his noseWhat''s more, there''s no evidence of a break-in. The family heirloom was recently re-insured for a hefty price, and Elsmere is struggling financially. Could he have staged the theft, or was it taken by one of the guests?

Old Major Rutherford, evasive beauty Rebecca Miles, Dutch war hero Patrick Verlinden, Elsmere''s son Dudley Mariner and his statuesque sculpture fiancée, Esmeralda Bellamy, are all guests at the manorBut who would steal the painting, and why?

Private investigators Langham and Ralph Ryland take on the case and soon uncover seething animosities, jealousy, secrets and deception, before events take a shocking turn.

Format Inbunden Omfång 208 sidor Språk Engelska Förlag Canongate Books Utgivningsdatum 2018-12-28 ISBN 9780727888525