The Affair at Barwold — Laurence Meynell

Hooky Hefferman is ordered by his dominating aunt in Hove to visit the Cotswold village of Barwold, where the young daughter of an old friend is thought to be keeping bad company. Meanwhile, one of the newsagents in a nearby town is going dangerously mad and is trying to rid the neighbourhood of local whores. Hooky quickly finds the local pub, where he takes note of the town's inhabitants' curious behaviour, and soon finds himself at odds with the police ...