Inspector Walter Day, and Sergeant Neville Hammersmith have been called
from The Yard to Blackhampton to aid in the investigation of a missing
boy and his parents. One of the interesting things Day learns almost
immediately is that the first wife of the missing man had disappeared a
few years earlier.
At the inn that evening, the vicar's wife surreptitiously hands him a
ten word cryptic note that implies that 'she' is buried beneath the
floor. But which floor? When the two men sit down to supper in Day's
room, Hammersmith is sure that the food has been drugged. The two
detectives begin to search the woods that evening with the help of
Constable Grimes, and a visiting birder. When Day becomes separated
from the others, he sees an apparition. Is it truly an man or is it
something else?
The following day, Dr. Kingsley arrives to help with the investigation.
At the same time, Hammersmith falls ill. Day finds out that the
community has been struck down by an illness of some sort when he goes
to the church, which has been made into a makeshift hospital. Hearing
that all the people drank water from the same well, Dr. Kingsley is sure
that they have typhoid.
Sadly, Day finds the body of the missing child at the bottom of the
well. This news brings his mother out of hiding, followed by his
father. The question now arises: who killed the lad and why? Author
Alex Grecian has lots of action left in the plot and a surprising
murderer. An entirely good, quick read.
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