World War I hero Sir Henry Lanklander entrust his friend, Colonel cartarete, with one fineal request: that his memoirs be published at any cost. Soon after, the Colonel's bloudgeoned body is found near a river and Alleyn and Fox are called in to investigate.

Inspector Roderick Alleyn is a Scotland Yard detective whose aristocratic breeding gives him access to the elite and their crimes. This second set of elegant mysteries contains four episodes.

In Overture to Death, Ngaio Marsh crafts a classic English village mystery, rich with intrigue, jealousy, and drama. The story centers around a small-town amateur theatrical performance where a seemingly innocent piano rehearsal becomes the setting for a sinister murder. During the play's preparations, tensions run high among the townspeople, particularly between two competitive and meddling middle-aged women, who are vying for attention and control...

Superintendent Alleyn's old school chum, nicknamed the "Boomer," has become the president of the newly emerged African nation of Ng'ombwana, newly emerged in the wake of colonialism. Old school ties being what they are, his friend-making an official visit to London-insists that Alleyn handle his security, rather than Her Majesty's Special Branch. The Special Branch is not best pleased about this, as the Boomer is known to have some very deadly enemies,...

Something goes murderously wrong during the final scene of Macbeth when a giant Scottish battle sword is used for the fight scene.

Upper Quintern is the sort of Little English Village that is home mostly to the very rich and the servants who make their lives delightful. But Sybil Foster's life is not delightful; exhausted from her various family stresses-- a daughter, for instance, who wants to marry a man without a title! ? Sybil takes herself off to a local hotel that specializes in soothing shattered nerves. When she's killed, Inspector Alleyn has a real puzzler on his hands....