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A Masterly Murder: The Sixth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew #6)
by Susanna GregoryThe sixth chronicle in the Matthew Bartholomew series. Michaelhouse is in uproar: Kenyngham the saintly but ageing Master has announced his retirement and with unseemly haste Runham arranges his own 'election' as his successor. Within days he has dismissed several members of staff, including the redoubtable laundress Agatha, and is making life so unpleasant for the scholars that even Matthew Bartholomew believes his future as physician and teacher at the college is untenable. But Matthew has many patients to divert his attention and Brother Michael, Proctor of the fledgling university, has some suspicious deaths to investigate, although they cannot help but notice that the new Master has commissioned a flurry of building work. Then Runham himself is murdered and, although mourned by none, Matthew and Michael know they have to solve the mystery before any more damage is done to their beloved Michaelhouse.'A first-rate treat for mystery lovers' (Historical Novels Review)'Susanna Gregory has an extraordinary ability to conjure up a strong sense of time and place' (Choice)
A Masterly Murder: The Sixth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew #9)
by Susanna GregoryMichaelhouse is in uproar: Kenyngham the saintly but ageing Master has announced his retirement and with unseemly haste Runham arranges his own 'election' as his successor. Within days he has dismissed several members of staff, including the redoubtable laundress Agatha, and is making life so unpleasant for the scholars that even Matthew Bartholomew believes his future as physician and teacher at the college is untenable. But Matthew has many patients to divert his attention and Brother Michael, Proctor of the fledgling university, has some suspicious deaths to investigate, although they cannot help but notice that the new Master has commissioned a flurry of building work. Then Runham himself is murdered and, although mourned by none, Matthew and Michael know they have to solve the mystery before any more damage is done to their beloved Michaelhouse.
A Masterly Murder (Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles #6)
by Susanna GregoryIt is a gloomy November day, and a corpse is just the beginning of the intrigue. Matthew Bartholomew recognizes the deceased as the book-bearer of Michaelhouse Fellow John Runham. The death looks like suicide, but before Bartholomew can confirm it, there is a second tragedy. Meanwhile, at Michaelhouse itself, the Master announces his retirement, to everyone's surprise-everyone, that is, except the ruthless Runham, who is hastily elected. Runham demands that Bartholomew choose between his teaching and his medical work, but as Bartholomew is agonizing over his impossible decision, the new Master is discovered dead.
The Mastermind
by David Unger"Based on a true story, The Mastermind is a tense political thriller about a successful Guatemalan lawyer whose life takes a strange turn when a failed affair leads to his faking his own death and implicating the government. Unger's searing political criticism blends with gripping real-life details to sketch an unforgettable picture of modern Guatemalan society."--World Literature Today"The Mastermind teems with the pulse of daily life in the tropics: the sights and sounds, the smells and tastes. He takes millionaires, whores, provocateurs, hit men, bankers with deep pockets, and political agendas, and weaves them into a dazzling tapestry. What befalls those driven by hubris--the writing on the wall, a fall from the heights to the depths--are part of the pattern, the biblical tales of warning, the consequences that cannot be avoided...Unger is the poet of his complicated homeland...How fortunate we are that when Unger speaks for them, his words soar."--American Book Review"Unger has given us not just a riveting portrait of a bizarre series of events, but a window onto the ethical challenges we all face."--Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas"The corruption and hopelessness of modern Guatemalan politics interfere in the life of a womanizing lawyer in this engaging novel...Through the lens of Guillermo's doomed relationship, Unger successfully evokes the tragedy and futility of life in Guatemala in a raw and unforgettable novel."--Publishers Weekly"This novel by Guatemalan-born Unger (The Price of Escape, 2011) offers a compelling portrait of a country shattered by government corruption, civil war, mass murder, drug cartels, ordinary street crime, inequality, desperate poverty, and even the effects of globalization....The rich but tragic sense of place Unger develops in this intriguing literary thriller will appeal to lovers of international crime fiction."--Booklist"Unger bases his latest novel on the true story of a Guatemalan lawyer who planned his own murder in 2009, fleshing out the story with healthy shots of sex and corruption....The political elements in Unger's story become more gripping through the eyes of his flawed protagonist. He's especially good at subtly shifting the tone of the narrative so that danger signs build up around Guillermo before either he or the reader realizes."--Kirkus Reviews"This novel contains so much background and capable storytelling that readers are likely to be blown away by the rich depths of David Unger's writing. This is a book that pulls no punches...This is a compelling story that can easily be read in a single sitting. And, as in any good mystery, when things go wrong, the novel becomes that much more interesting. Even for readers with no interest in Guatemala per se, this is one worth reading for the sheer joy of the writing itself."--Reviewing the EvidenceBy all appearances, Guillermo Rosensweig is the epitome of success. He is a member of the Guatemalan elite, runs a successful law practice, has a wife and kids and a string of gorgeous lovers. Then one day he crosses paths with Maryam, a Lebanese beauty with whom he falls desperately in love...to the point that when he loses her, he sees no other option than to orchestrate his own death.The Mastermind is based on the bizarre real-life story of Rodrigo Rosenberg, a Guatemalan attorney who, in 2009, planned his own assassination after leaving behind a video accusing Guatemalan president Álvaro Colom of his murder. (In April 2011, the New Yorker published an article by David Grann about Rosenberg which has been optioned by Matt Damon for his directorial debut.) This is a fascinating depiction of modern-day Guatemala and the corrupt, criminal, and threatening reality that permeates its society.
The Mastermind Plot
by Angie FrazierA new, exciting Suzanna Snow adventure! Suzanna "Zanna" Snow can hardly believe her luck: She's just arrived in Boston, the city she's wanted to visit for as long as she can remember. Think of all the mysteries waiting to be solved here! Her grandmother and cousin, Will, welcome her warmly, but her famous detective uncle, Bruce Snow, seems anything but pleased. He doesn't want Zanna meddling in his current case involving a string of mysterious warehouse fires along the harbor front. But Zanna can't help herself. Is someone setting the fires? Just when she thinks she's on to something, a strange man starts following her. Is he a threat? Zanna needs to solve the case before she has the chance to find out.
Masterminds (Masterminds #1)
by Gordon Korman<P>Action-packed and full of unexpected twists, this new series from New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman is perfect for young fans of James Patterson and John Grisham. <P>Eli Frieden lives in the most perfect town in the world: Serenity, New Mexico. In this idyllic place, every lawn is perfectly manicured and everyone has a pool and a tree house. Honesty and integrity are valued above all else. The thirty kids who live there never lie--they know it's a short leap from that to the awful problems of other, less fortunate places. <P>Eli has never left Serenity . . . Why would he ever want to? Then one day he bikes to the edge of the city limits and something so crazy and unexpected happens, it changes everything. Eli convinces his friends to help him investigate further, and soon it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. The clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, connecting their ideal crime-free community to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known. The kids realize they can trust no one--least of all their own parents. <P><b> Nominee for the 2018 Young Reader's Choice Award </b> <i>(Pacific Northwest Library Association)</i>
Masterminds: Criminal Destiny (Masterminds #2)
by Gordon Korman<P>The second book in the acclaimed, action-packed series from New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman. <P>The clones of Project Osiris are free--but they're being hunted. . . . After their narrow escape from their "perfect" hometown, Eli, Tori, Amber, and Malik are finally in the real world and determined to expose the leaders of Serenity. They decide to track down Tamara Dunleavy, the mysterious billionaire and founder of Project Osiris. Evading capture by breaking laws and sneaking into houses, hotels, buses, and cars--are they becoming the criminals they were destined to be? <P>What they discover will change everything, leading them straight into the Plastic Works and the heart of the experiment, in order to uncover the deadly criminals they're cloned from--and any evidence that will convince the outside world to believe the truth. But the outside world isn't exactly what they expected--strangers aren't just unfriendly, they're dangerous. And the wrong move could send them right back into the arms of Dr. Hammerstrom--and trapped in Serenity for good.On a breakneck journey from Jackson Hole to a maximum security prison--Eli, Tori, Amber, and Malik will stop at nothing to take Project Osiris down. <P><b> Nominee for the 2018 Young Reader's Choice Award </b> <i>(Pacific Northwest Library Association)</i>
Masterminds: Payback (Masterminds #3)
by Gordon Korman<P>The thrilling finale to the New York Times-bestselling Masterminds series from middle grade star author Gordon Korman. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and James Patterson. <P>After a serious betrayal from one of their former friends, the clones of Project Osiris are on the run again. Now separated into pairs, Eli and Tori and Amber and Malik are fighting to survive in the real world.Amber and Malik track down the one person they think can help them prove the existence of Project Osiris, notorious mob boss Gus Alabaster, also known as Malik’s DNA donor. But as Malik gets pulled into the criminal world—tantalized by hints of a real family—his actions put him and Amber into greater danger. <P>Eli and Tori get sucked into even bigger conspiracies as they hunt down Project Osiris’s most closely guarded secrets—who does Eli’s DNA come from? With a surprising new ally and another cross-country adventure, the four will have to work together to overcome the worst parts of themselves if they are going to end Project Osiris once and for all. <P><b> Nominee for the 2018 Young Reader's Choice Award </b> <i>(Pacific Northwest Library Association)</i>
Masterpiece
by Elise BroachIn this follow-up to "Shakespeare's Secret," Broach delivers a fast-paced mystery in which a young boy and a beetle attempt to pull off a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Masterpiece: A Novel
by Fiona DavisIn her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them.For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.
A Masterpiece of Corruption (A John Grey Historical Mystery #2)
by L.C. TylerThe second John Grey historical mysteryIt is December 1657. John Grey, at his cramped desk in Lincoln's Inn, is attempting to resume his legal career. A mysterious message from a 'Mr SK' tempts him out into the snowy streets of London and to what he believes will be a harmless diversion from his studies. But Mr SK's letter proves to have been intended for somebody else entirely and Grey unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a plot to assassinate the Lord Protector - a plot about which he now knows more than it is safe to know. Can he both prevent the murder and (of greater immediate relevance) save his own skin? Both the Sealed Knot and Cromwell's Secretary of State, John Thurloe believe he is on their side, but he is unsure that either is on his. As somebody is kind enough to point out to him: 'You are a brave man, Grey. The life of a double agent can be exciting but very short.' Grey just has to hope that prediction is wrong.Praise for L.C. Tyler'Tyler juggles his characters, story wit and clever one liners with perfect balance' - The Times'A cracking pace, lively dialogue, wickedly witty one-liners salted with sophistication . . . Why would we not want more of John Grey?' - The Bookbag
A Masterpiece of Corruption (The\john Grey Mysteries Ser. #2)
by L.C. TylerThe second John Grey historical mysteryIt is December 1657. John Grey, at his cramped desk in Lincoln's Inn, is attempting to resume his legal career. A mysterious message from a 'Mr SK' tempts him out into the snowy streets of London and to what he believes will be a harmless diversion from his studies. But Mr SK's letter proves to have been intended for somebody else entirely and Grey unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a plot to assassinate the Lord Protector - a plot about which he now knows more than it is safe to know. Can he both prevent the murder and (of greater immediate relevance) save his own skin? Both the Sealed Knot and Cromwell's Secretary of State, John Thurloe believe he is on their side, but he is unsure that either is on his. As somebody is kind enough to point out to him: 'You are a brave man, Grey. The life of a double agent can be exciting but very short.' Grey just has to hope that prediction is wrong.Praise for L.C. Tyler'Tyler juggles his characters, story wit and clever one liners with perfect balance' - The Times'A cracking pace, lively dialogue, wickedly witty one-liners salted with sophistication . . . Why would we not want more of John Grey?' - The Bookbag
A Masterpiece of Corruption: John Grey #2 (The John Grey Mysteries #2)
by L.C. TylerIn this mystery by the author of Crooked Herring, a lawyer in Cromwell&’s England receives dangerous info that could stop a murder—or get him killed. John Grey is a newly minted lawyer and would-be ladies&’ man with a bad habit of poking his nose into other people&’s business and getting tangled up in intrigue. That&’s unfortunate, because a mis-delivered letter from royalists has left Grey with more information about a murderous plot than it&’s entirely safe to know. Can Grey prevent the murder? And of infinitely more importance, can he keep his mouth shut long enough to save his own skin?Praise for A Masterpiece of Corruption&“Tyler cleverly marries plot and period in his sequel to A Cruel Necessity set during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell . . .. Tyler&’s judicious use of dry humor enhances a page-turning and plausible story line.&” —Publishers Weekly&“A dizzying whirl of plot and counterplot.&” —The Guardian (UK)
Masterpieces of Mystery
by Anna Katharine GreenStories of murder and mayhem from the first lady of American mysteryMasterpieces of Mystery is a scintillating collection of suspenseful tales from pioneering author Anna Katharine Green, one of the first female writers of detective fiction. Tantalizingly tangled plots and unpredictable revelations abound: A young housewife left home alone on Christmas Eve worries about the threat of robbery when a stranger knocks at her door; a daughter checks in to Three Forks Tavern with her mother, only to awaken to find her mother missing and declared dead in the nearby woods; a valuable jewel is stolen at a society ball filled with duplicitous debutantes and dashing gentlemen; and a specter that haunts the apartment of a husband and wife, which may be a good spirit or a harbinger of doom. This collection includes the classic stories "Room No. 3," "The Staircase at Heart's Delight," "The Grey Lady," "The House in the Mist," and more. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Master's Blood (The Shifters #6)
by M. D. GrimmThe Shifters: Book SixThree days after the Agency infiltrated the headquarters of the Knights, an organization that killed, tortured, and experimented on shifters, Chief Anu sends Agent Poe on assignment: find Nordik, the powerful bear shifter who controls Sanctuary, and offer alliance. Agent Poe already has his hands full with shifters who need help and a kidnapped agent who needs rescue. Poe has never failed a mission, but he finds members of the Knights who escaped the raid inside Sanctuary, raising suspicions about Chief Anu. Poe's goals change once more when he discovers he and Nordik have a mutual attraction they can't resist. Keeping shifters safe becomes more complicated, and more important, than ever.
Master's Challenge: Number 55 in Series (The Destroyer #55)
by Richard Sapir Warren MurphyBreathlessly action-packed and boasting a winning combination of thrills, humour and mysticism, the Destroyer is one of the bestselling series of all time.
The Master's Cry: Episode Five
by Chris Stewart"It really grips you....I lost a lot of sleep reading it." -Tim LaHaye, co-author of the LEFT BEHIND series EVERYTHING FELL SILENT "The flash was sudden and bright, white-hot, blazing and intense. It burst down from the night sky, leaving a yellow glow that quickly faded and then disappeared. Their car stopped suddenly. No chug. No cough or sputter. It was as if someone had reached over and turned the key off." In the wake of a devastating nuclear attack on Washington, D.C., the surviving member of the government begin to plot their retaliation. But, before they can act, the world goes insane. Missiles from Israel and Iran pass each other in the air, decades of threats finally giving way to death and destruction. Japan, South Korea and China watch as the North Koreans begin to fuel their missiles. Millions of Muslims in Western Europe begin to riot. India and Pakistan raise their defense levels. The entire world seems to be on the edge of the abyss. In Saudi Arabia, however, things are going exactly to plan. King Al-Rahman, prodded along by a mysterious old man, consolidates his power within the Kingdom and orders a final, debilitating blow on the United States. Against the backdrop of torn-from-the-headlines Middle Eastern drama, the Wrath & Righteousness series is a fast-paced thriller that explores man's role in the eternal battle between good and evil. Chris Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Miracle of Freedom. He is a world-record-setting Air Force pilot (fastest nonstop flight around the world) and president and CEO of The Shipley Group, a nationally recognized consulting and training company. Wrath & Righteousness is a ten episode e-book series by New York Times bestselling author Chris Stewart. Each episode is approximately 50,000-60,000 words (roughly two-thirds the length of a normal full-length novel). This series was adapted from the previously published The Great and Terrible series that was released from 2003-2008.
The Master's Hand (Mystery and the Minister’s Wife #26)
by Diane NobleAN EYE FOR ART. COPPER MILL IS BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT over the opening of a new museum that features art donated by one of the town's great success stories: a man named Davis Carr, who spent a meaningful part of his childhood there. Carr has even made sure that the museum is equipped with a high-tech surveillance system run by security guru Clive Garfield. But when Paul's mentor Nehemiah Jacobs comes across the security feed of the museum, he sees more than just a few priceless paintings. Kate is sure that the suspicious activity at the museum is connected to Clive, especially after she notices that Livvy's son James Jenner, who works on Clive's security team, begins to act fearful and skittish. When Kate tries to enlist the assistance of Renee Lambert, she finds that Renee has sworn off gossip, which makes for a surprisingly difficult investigation. With or without Renee, Kate knows that something shady is surrounding the museum and, worse, she worries that James is in trouble. Can she get to the bottom of it before it's too late?
Masters of Illusion: a Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire
by Mary-Ann Tirone SmithWith a reporter's eye, Smith re-creates an unforgettable tragedy, the Hartford circus fire of 1944 that left 169 people dead and over a thousand injured. And with a writer's vision, she tells a moving story about two people who search to find the truth behind the catastrophe - and discover the secrets hidden in their own lives." "Because World War II has sent so many men overseas, the excited crowd gathering at the July 6, 1944, circus matinee to see the Flying Wallendas, clown Emmett Kelly, and the fabulous animal acts of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth are mostly women and children. So are the victims of the fire. Margie Potter is the youngest child to survive, yet she won't even remember the flames that claim her mother's life and leave her own back scarred. The Hartford fireman she meets and marries eighteen years later, Charlie O'Neill, was only ten the summer of the fire, but the terrifying day has stayed in his mind - so vividly that he can never forget it." "Masters of Illusion is Margie and Charlie's story - a story of investigation, of peeling back the layers of the past to discover what really happened. The fire may have been a tragic accident, no one knows for sure, but Charlie is convinced it was an act of deliberate murder. His and Margie's twenty-five-year hunt for evidence will end up revealing the emotional and physical scars she doesn't even know are there. And this story of suspense will become a portrayal of a woman's dramatic awakening as she faces the facts of her life and the stripping away of illusions she has embraced throughout her girlhood and marriage.
The Masters of the House
by Robert BarnardIn the late winter of 1979, Leeds housewife Ellen Heenan dies in childbirth – abandoning a guilt-stricken husband to insanity’s grasp and leaving four young children to find for themselves. Thirteen-year-old Matthew and Annie, age twelve, know what the authorities will do if the learn of Father’s debilitating madness. A close-knit family will be speedily unravelled, its threads scattered carelessly to the winds. So deception is the only recourse – a façade of normalcy that must be carefully constructed to fool prying neighbourhood eyes. And resourceful young Matthew and his sister have the situation well in hand – until a freshly slain corpse turns up beneath the kitchen window . . .
Masters of True Crime: Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre
by R. Barri FlowersFlowers, an independent literary criminologist and crime writer, collects 17 stories by true crime authors, journalists, and others who explore historical and modern-day crimes involving murder, arson, missing persons, cold cases, organized crime, and escaped convicts. They relate stories about the Michigan State U. serial killer, the murder of a girl scout, a child arsonist, the murder of Arizona heiress Jeanne Tovrea, the murder of a mob insider, mail bombs, and other crimes. No index is provided. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Masters of War: Danny Black Thriller 1 (Danny Black #1)
by Chris RyanThe first book in the hugely popular Danny Black series by the creator of the hit TV show Strikeback.Paris. An elderly man is assassinated as he takes his morning walk.In the war-torn cities of Syria, government forces wage a bloody war against their own people.The Russians are propping up the government, the French are backing one rebel fraction and the British are backing another.In north Africa, young SAS trooper Danny Black is coming to the end of a gruelling tour of duty, or so he thinks.Danny has a new mission. An MI6 agent needs to make contact with Syrian rebel forces, and also with the private military contractors who are - unofficially - training this rebel faction as it struggles to bring down their government and establish a new regime that will be favourable to British business interests. Danny will learn who the masters of war, the men who call the shots, really are.Danny discovers a world where death is dispensed by the highest bidder and individuals will betray anybody if the price is right.
Masters of War: Danny Black Thriller 1
by Chris RyanThe first book in the hugely popular Danny Black series by the creator of the hit TV show Strikeback.Paris. An elderly man is assassinated as he takes his morning walk.In the war-torn cities of Syria, government forces wage a bloody war against their own people.The Russians are propping up the government, the French are backing one rebel fraction and the British are backing another.In north Africa, young SAS trooper Danny Black is coming to the end of a gruelling tour of duty, or so he thinks.Danny has a new mission. An MI6 agent needs to make contact with Syrian rebel forces, and also with the private military contractors who are - unofficially - training this rebel faction as it struggles to bring down their government and establish a new regime that will be favourable to British business interests. Danny will learn who the masters of war, the men who call the shots, really are.Danny discovers a world where death is dispensed by the highest bidder and individuals will betray anybody if the price is right.
Masters of War: Danny Black Thriller 1 (Danny Black #1)
by Chris RyanIn Paris, an elderly man is assassinated as he takes his morning walk. In the war-torn cities of Syria, government forces wage a bloody war against their own people. The Russians are propping up the government, the French are backing one rebel fraction and the British are backing another. And in north Africa, young SAS trooper Jamie Truman is coming to the end of a gruelling tour of duty, or so he thinks. Jamie has a new mission. An MI6 agent needs to make contact with Syrian rebel forces, and also with the private military contractors who are - unofficially - training this rebel faction as it struggles to bring down their government and establish a new regime that will be favourable to British business interests. As they travel deep into rebel heartland, Jamie will learn who the masters of war, the men who call the shots, really are. As Jamie finds himself sucked into the murky orbit of the private military, he discovers a world where death is dispensed by the highest bidder and individuals will betray anybody if the price is right.And where a secret lurks that will change the course of Jamie's own life, however long that might last...(P)2013 Hodder & Stoughton
Masterstroke: And, Red Herrings (The Simon Bognor Mysteries #7)
by Tim HealdAfter a boozy Oxford reunion, Bognor is distressed to learn one of his classmates is a killerNothing depresses Simon Bognor like a university reunion. Every pimply-faced boy he knew two decades prior has made something of himself, while Bognor languishes at the Board of Trade, muddling along in an investigatory position for which he is hideously unqualified. Although more often than not his job requires catching murderers, he lacks even the observational powers to notice when the head of his old college has been poisoned. Both quite drunk, they totter off to their respective beds. Bognor makes it, but the master doesn&’t—he collapses dead at the top of the stairs. Due to the dead man&’s ties to the government, Bognor is asked to sort out who did him in. At long last he has the opportunity to prove himself at his old college—but Bognor knows it is just as likely that he will end up in the dunce&’s cap.