The Fifth Book in the Gervase Fen series; first published in 1948

Professor Gervase Fen is happy to step in when his old friend, the headmaster of the exclusive Castrevenford School, needs a guest speaker for the school’s annual Speech Day. (Though the headmaster, it must be said, has his doubts as to whether Fen is “capable of the sustained hypocrisy which the occasion demands.”)

Fen’s happiness, however, turns to positive glee when it becomes clear that his sleuthing skills are needed: Not only has a student at the local girls’ school been trifled with in some unspecified, clearly fiendish fashion, but poison has been swiped from the chemistry department, and two, yes two teachers have been murdered!

Too bad, of course, for the teachers, but for Fen it’s a very good day indeed.

“Shows terrific wit, and a great talent for bringing interesting characters to life…the senile, homicidal bloodhound, Mr. Merrythought, is a masterpiece of canine creation” – The New Yorker

“Delightfully and deviously plotted” – New York Times