This is my first experience of reading a book by this author and I must say I'm quite impressed. The body of a man is found at the bottom of a staircase in an empty house. It is the first in a series of deaths which are at first thought to be accidental. The investigating officer Inspector Macdonald finally discovers the murderer after a complicated case.
The plot is well thought out and the villain is suitable evil and devious. The police are rather colourless and not so well-drawn. However overall this is an excellent story. ( )

After an unknown criminal sets an ingenious murder trap in the Villa Eugenie, an empty house in St. John's Wood (notorious in the 19th century as a place where rich men kept their mistresses) Jock Macdonald finds that the Hazeley family which has owned it for some 100 years has many members who could have wanted to kill one of their relatives. It quickly appears that many other crimes may be related to this one, including the attempted murder by arson of the current owner, the elderly and eccentric Jeremy Hazeley. The whereabouts of the family's black sheep Silas are also relevant to the enquiry, which ends with a night encounter in the Villa. As always with Lorac, this is both readable and rereadable - if you like other books of hers you won't go wrong with this one. ( )