When the almost cremated remains of its three inmates are discovered an inquest is held and a verdict of accidental death arrived at. However, some weeks later an incident occurs which arouses suspicion in a bank manager and Inspector French is called in.
Freeman Wills Crofts (1 June 1879 – 11 April 1957) was an Irish mystery author, best remembered for the character of Inspector Joseph French. A railway engineer by training, Crofts introduced railway themes into many of his stories, which were notable for their intricate planning. Although outshone by Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and other more celebrated authors from the golden age of detective fiction, he was highly esteemed by those authors, and many of his books are still in print.