R T Claridge

Did the young and beautiful Lady Tradescant try to poison her elderly husband? If not, who did?

There is no shortage of suspects - quite a few people might have wanted Sir Seymour Tradescant dead. His eccentric twin sister Bettina, his disgruntled son Nicholas, his scheming daughter Olivia... Antonia Darcy and Hugh Payne face one of their most baffling cases.

Their investigation takes them from the luxury of Claridges Hotel to Mayholme Manor, a residential home for elderly gentlemen. This proves to be a distinctly sinister establishment, where they encounter the mysterious Doctor Fairchild and his albino manservant Madden. Does the solution to the puzzle lie in the past - there seems to be a link to the Nuremberg Trials? It looks as though a controversial royal figure might have secretly plotted to save one of Hitler's mot notorious henchmen from the hangman's noose.

Even when Antonia and Hugh believe they know the identity of the killer, the necessary proof is dangerously elusive.