A London police detective stumbles upon a bizarre burglary during a storm in a thriller by “one of the most popular writers of the early twentieth century” (Mystery Scene).
Cambridge-educated Richard Staines, newly promoted to DI by Scotland Yard, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his career, but he is about to face his most profoundly puzzling case yet. As a policeman, he wouldn’t typically break into a house—but when he finds himself trapped on a balcony in Belgravia during a thunderstorm, he smashes some glass in desperation to gain access to an acquaintance’s property. Making his way through the dimness, he’s shocked to encounter a bound and blindfolded man whose pockets are being rifled through—by a woman in an evening gown. When she turns, he’s staring into the face of the lovely, kindhearted young nurse he met only hours earlier. And then everything goes black . . .
Edgar Wallace (1875–1932) was one of the most popular and prolific authors of his era. His hundred-odd books, including the groundbreaking Four Just Men series and the African adventures of Commissioner Sanders and Lieutenant Bones, have sold over fifty million copies around the world. He is best remembered today for his thrillers and for the original version of King Kong, which was revised and filmed after his death.