The theft of a painting takes crimewriter sleuth Donald Langham to a country house full of seething tensions, resentment and dark secrets. November, 1956. Lord Elsmere, an old friend of Donald Langhams literary agent, Charles Elder, is in a pickle his favourite painting, a Gainsborough, has been stolen from under his nose. Whats more, theres no evidence of a breakin. The family heirloom was recently reinsured 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, Elsmeres son Dudley Mariner and his statuesque sculpture fiance, Esmeralda Bellamy, are all guests at the manor. But 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.

Binding: Hardback;208 pages; Publisher: Canongate Books; Classification: FF; Weight: 528 g; Dimensions: 143 x 224 x 23

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