
Jeremy Oakshott Fellow of Jerusalem Hall & an authority on the Crusades is content with life until renowned archaeologist Mrs Lestrange urges him to join her expedition to Syria His wealthy uncle Ambrose Littlemore refuses to help him & is murdered soon afterwards Detective Inspector Antrobus has already investigated the savage murder of one of Oakeshott's old friends but the scholar's alibis are completely water-tight Assisted by his doctor friend Sophia Jex-Blake Antrobus looks further afield visiting two criminal lunatic asylums a remote nunnery & a quiet country village where at last they uncover the truth about five savage murders & the identity of their perpetrator