February 6, 2023
Originally published in 1944, this intriguing mystery from Brand (1907–1988) swiftly sets out its premise—seven suspects, one of them a murderer—and then settles into describing their disparate lives and the reasons that have brought them together at Heron’s Park Military Hospital early in WWII. When retired postman Joseph Higgins dies on the operating table during a simple surgical procedure, curmudgeonly Inspector Cockrill of the Kent Police arrives to determine whether the death was an accident or murder. Though eager to get back home before the blackout, the detective eventually concedes that Higgins met with foul play. But how, by whom, and why? The investigation carries on amid squabbles, burgeoning love affairs, and broken hearts. Brand skillfully delivers a full complement of surprises, motives, and suspects. However, what gives this classic closed-circle puzzle its fascinating patina for contemporary readers are the authentic details and insights into life in London under the blitz, which Brand experienced firsthand, as revealed in an author’s note. This entry in the British Library Crime Classics series is a must for readers who like their mysteries wrapped in sobering history.