Prelude to a Certain Midnight — Gerald Kersh

Prelude to a Certain Midnight, first published in 1947, is a novel of the rise and fall of a group of patrons of a neighborhood bar on a side street of London's East End. In the midst of the looming World War II, a 10-year-old Jewish girl is murdered. The police have no clues and little interest in solving the crime, so Asta Thundersley, a wealthy woman, turns crusader and takes up the challenge, sifting through clues and gathering suspects for a dinner party where, unfortunately, nothing helpful is learned. A police detective is also involved but similarly, makes little headway. The book is notable for its varied array of colorful characters and evocative narration. Gerald Kersh (1911-1968) was the author of a number of novels and short stories.