"Laced with Brand's caustic wit, this one is a true puzzler with a harrowing, revelatory climax."--Booklist, Starred Review

At Elysian Hall, a grand exhibition space in post-War London, a cast has been assembled for a medieval-themed pageant show featuring knights in colored armor, real horses, and a damsel in a rickety tower on high. With death threats discovered by members of the troupe before the show, the worst comes to pass when the leading lady is thrown from the tower before the eyes of the audience by an unknown assailant--with all doors backstage also under observation.

Faced with a seemingly impossible case, the wizened Inspector Cockrill and the fresh-faced Inspector Charlesworth begrudgingly join forces to uncover the killer hiding in plain sight.

First published in Britain in 1949, Brand's exuberant novel is still regarded as one of the great masterpieces of the classic mystery genre for its fiendishly constructed puzzle, memorable setting, dumbfounding acts of misdirection and thrilling denouement. This edition includes an introduction by award-winning author Martin Edwards

Brand, Christianna

CHRISTIANNA BRAND was the pseudonym of Mary Christianna Milne (1907-1988), a British crime writer who was born in British Malaya. She is best known for her mystery novels featuring series detective Inspector Cockrill, though she also wrote several acclaimed short story collections and authored the Nurse Matilda book series for children.