Book description
Having resigned his Army commission when his brother's criminal
activities were uncovered, Benedict Wilberforce now lives on the
beautiful Caribbean island of San Fernando. But his peaceful existence
is rudely shattered by the arrival of two vicious and utterly ruthless
men both claiming to be George Wilberforce, his brother's son, entitled
to receive his estate. By the time his niece Alison arrives for a visit,
Uncle Ben has disappeared and murder has already erupted. Faced with
this macabre situation, Alison is determined to remain on the island
until the mystery is cleared up. An added inducement is her revived
interest in Peter Grant, the young lawyer sent out from England.
Superintendent Graham with the Fernandan police investigate, is helped
by the two young people and by the Fernandan waiter at Uncle Ben's
hotel, who has for a long time known more than anyone else about the
Wilberforce legacy. 'Tumbledown Caribbean setting, solid puzzle and
highly neat twist. Reads like taking a good walk, covering plenty of
miles with lots to see.' The Times
Josephine Bell was born Doris Bell Collier in
Manchester, England. Between 1910 and 1916 she studied at Godolphin
School, then trained at Newnham College, Cambridge until 1919. At the
University College Hospital in London she was granted M. R.C. S. and
L. R.C. P. in 1922, and a M. B. B. S. in 1924.
Bell was a prolific author, writing forty-three
novels and numerous uncollected short stories during a forty-five year
period.
Many of her short stories appeared in the London
Evening Standard. Using her pen name she wrote numerous
detective novels beginning in 1936, and she was well-known for her
medical mysteries. Her early books featured the fictional character
Dr. David Wintringham who worked at Research Hospital in London as a
junior assistant physician. She helped found the Crime Writers'
Association in 1953 and served as chair during 1959-60.
