' All his stories are amusing intriguing & he is a master of the final twist'
- Agatha Christie' One of the most stunning trick stories in the history of detective fiction'
- Julian Symons Graham & Joan Bendix have apparently succeeded in making that eighth wonder of the modern world a happy marriage & into the middle of it there drops like a clap of thunder a box of chocolates Joan Bendix is killed by a poisoned box of liqueur chocolates that cannot have been intended for her to eat The police investigation rapidly reaches a dead end Chief Inspector Moresby calls on Roger Sheringham & his Crimes Circle
- six amateur but intrepid detectives
- to consider the case The evidence is laid before the Circle & the members take it in turn to offer a solution Each is more convincing than the last slowly filling in the pieces of the puzzle until the dazzling conclusion