The Unfinished Clue (Country House Mysteries, 3)

A houseful of people he loathes is not Sir Arthur's worst problem It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest-list is enough to exasperate a saint, and the host, Sir Arthur Billington-Smith, is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. When Sir Arthur is found stabbed to death, no one is particularly grievedand no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests fi nd themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding, who has solved tough cases beforebut this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for. It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest-list is enough to exasperate a saint, and irascible General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith was nobody's idea of the perfect host. In fact he was absolutely frightful. He bullied his wife, Fay, grumped at his guests, refused gleefully to help his financially stricken indigent nephew, and positively blew his stack when his wayward son, Geoffrey, took up with a nightclub dancer, Lola de Silva, who was definitely N.Q.O.C. (Not Quite Our Class.) Sir Arthur is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. But a houseful of people he loathes isn't his worst problem... Is it any wonder that one fine, bright, English June morning Sir Arthur quite literally became a bloody bore when he was firmly stabbed in the back with a pretty little Chinese dagger? When he is found death, no one is particularly grieved, least of all his family -- and no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding from London, who has solved tough cases before -- but this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for. He confesses his feelings for her and she affirms that they are reciprocated. But he thought everyone was guilty? A houseful of people he loathes is not Sir Arthur's worst problem...It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest list is enough to exasperate a saint, and the host, Sir Arthur Billingham-Smith, is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. When Sir Arthur is found stabbed to death, no one is particularly grieved—and no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding, who has solved tough cases before. But this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for.'Miss Heyer's characters and dialogue are an abiding delight to me...I have seldom met people to whom I have taken so violent a fancy from the word'Go.''—Dorothy L. Sayers'Heyer is an author to read—this means you!'—New York Herald Tribune'Miss Heyer has the delightful talent of blending humor with mystery.'—Boston Evening Transcript It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest list is enough to exasperate a saint, and the host, Sir Arthur Billingham-Smith, is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. When Sir Arthur is found stabbed to death, no one is particularly grieved?and no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding, who has solved tough cases before. But this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for. AMAZON It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest list is enough to exasperate a saint, and the host, Sir Arthur Billingham-Smith, is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. When Sir Arthur is found stabbed to death, no one is particularly aggrieved -- and no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding, who has solved tough cases before. But this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for The Unfinished Clue is a mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, in which every guest is a suspect, and none has an alibi.At first glance, it should have been a lovely English country-house weekend party. But it's the guestlist from hell, and the host, Sir Arthur Billington-Smith, is an abusive wretch who everyone at the party has a reason to hate. When he's found in his study, stabbed to death and clutching a torn check in his hand, the unhappy guests and estranged family find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding."