The Durham Deception

Tom and Helen Ansell are attending a seance.  The medium tells Tom that his deceased father has a warning for him of danger by some woods near a dangerous stretch of water.  Suddenly one of the guests informs the medium that he is a policeman and that charges could be pending over what the medium has prophesied.

Why had the pair gone to the seance in the first place?  Helen’s mother is worried that a charlatan is in the process of conning her older sister in Durham out of her life savings.  He apparently has told Helen’s aunt that her deceased father has told the aunt to treat him as a son.

A couple of weeks later, Tom is assigned the task of going to Durham to take an affidavit from a magician regarding the authenticity of the Lucknow Dagger.  Taking Helen with him will allow them to get two things done there.  However, when he tells her, she informs him of a strange man who had been asking questions about lawyers in their area of London and also tells him of a man who had been standing outside their home for some time.  Tom is worried about that.

In Durham, Tom and Helen meet Eustace Flask, protege of her aunt.  Neither trust him, but can’t prove anything.

They also meet Major Marmont, a magician, and the man that Tom was sent to prepare the affidavit for.  Marmont has tried to make Flask look like a buffoon.

Later Flask would be found dead, with Helen standing over him and her hands covered in blood.  After Helen has been being taken in by the police, Tom is sent for.  She tells her story to him about finding the dying Flask.  Moments later Superintendent Harcourt informs them that evidence has been brought to light that exonerates her.  He shows them the Lucknow Dagger and a letter, which is either written by an illiterate or someone wanting the police to believe that they are.  Helen is released from custody.

However, unbeknownst to the pair, their lives are in danger and a detective from Scotland Yard is on his way to inform them of the threat.  Will they survive the threat to their lives, and will the detective get to Durham in time to prevent their demise?

Author Philip Gooden’s novel is a fun, quick read.