Over and Doubt — Julius Falconer

Fancy a bit of political theory mixed up with your murder? a group of Danish students with daring plans for a new world order? a scam involving some missing music scores? wolf-ravens in Scandinavian folklore? Then this is the book for you! Inspector Wickfield and Sergeant Hewitt are invited to take on the investigation into the murder of a woman in the St John's Wood area of London. The metropolitan police have arrested her husband, and, although he vigorously protests his innocence, Wickfield, like his colleagues before him, finds it difficult to believe him. The investigation takes a different turn when the inhabitants of a sleepy manor-house in Gloucestershire are outraged by the appearance of a dog's head and a dead rook mounted on a spike in their drive. Follow the inspector in an intricate and baffling investigation in which only a brainwave saves his reputation. Allow the narrator to lead you by the hand (or possibly by the nose) until, it may be, the light dawns on you before it dawns on the inspector. Gracious English, dry wit, learned asides, well-researched background - all the Falconer hallmarks are here.