Work for the Hangman

Bruce Graeme, John Norris

From Shelf: Bruce Graeme - Theodore Terhune Bibliomystery Series

Bookseller Theodore Terhune travels to Yorkshire to buy the private library of a wealthy man who has drowned in a lake on his property. His family is suspicious, but everyone seems to have an ironclad alibi. Terhune slowly unpicks a devious plot.

"What I read in your hand is tragedy-a horrible tragedy that doesn't come to one in a million people."

Bookseller Theodore Terhune buys the substantial library of recently deceased James Strudgewick, a wealthy Yorkshireman who drowned at a local beauty spot. Deemed anaccidental death by the coroner, the locals remain suspicious, and dislike Strudgewick's nephew and heir. But Ronald Strudgewick has a cast-iron alibi - he was 30 miles away visiting with friend Robert Shilling in Thirsk at the time of his uncle's death, and the police have already picked over his movements. But Terhune and his friend Julia have met Shilling before, and know there is a mysterious accidental death in his past too...

Work for the Hangman is a classic blend of a traditional detective novel and inverted 'how-to-catch-em" mystery. It showcases Bruce Graeme's use of local geography and small details to build an intriguing puzzle.