James Saxon

The police found the third corpse on a wharf in the Pool of London, her body covered with flower petals and pearls. Within the hour the killer was safe at sea - and amoung his fellow-passengers were four potential victims.

New Zealand theatrical manager Alfred Meyer wanted to celebrate his wife's birthday in style. The pièce de résistance would be the jeroboam of champagne. But something went horribly wrong and Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn witnessed it himself.

One summer evening in 1942, Flossie Rubrick, goes to her husband's wool shed to rehearse a patriotic speech - and disappears. Three weeks later she turns up at an auction, packed inside one of her own bales of wool and very, very dead.

When a much disliked visiting servant disappears without trace after playing Santa Claus, foul play is at once suspected - and suspicion falls on the guests. The very thought that such a respectable bunch would commit murder seems like a heresy.