Last Act — Margery Allingham

TWO SUPERB NOVELLAS OF MURDER MOST MYSTERIOUS

WANTED: SOMEONE INNOCENT
Genteel poverty became Miss Gillian Brayton. But sudden good fortune pleased her infinitely more when an old school acquaintance, the now-famous Rita Fayre, swept Gillian away in a Rolls to an opulent new life as a nurse to wounded war hero, Julian Fayre. Once there, however, Gillian felt anything but comfortable. Why were the servants so hostile? Why was the intriguing Julian so remote, so suspicious? Why would Rita hire a ravishing young woman to minister to her husband's needs? The question of motive was pure speculation -- until Rita is murdered...and a trail of poison leads directly to Gillian's door.

LAST ACT
She lived her life in italics. But in death the doyenne of the French stage played her greatest role. Who killed Madame Mathilde Zoffany? Was it Margot, actress and adopted daughter, who rejected the marriage Mathilde had arranged? Or Victor, spoiled grandson, who coveted Mathilde's fortune -- and Margot, as well. Or Denis, the despised grandson she'd defamed and tried to disinherit? The smashed ormolu clock bespoke violence. But when the end finally came, it was only Act II of a drama yet to unfold.