Withered Murder

It was first published by Gollancz in London in 1955 and then a year later in New York by Macmillan as part of their 'Cock Robin Mystery' imprint.

Mr Verity is staying at the Barnacle Hotel at Crab Point, a small island off the Cornish coast.

He observes them over dinner one evening and regards each of them carefully: the proprietress; the retired actress; the secretary; the ex-husband and a failed artist; a professor; a minister and his wife; a young journalist; a solicitor and an archaeologist and ancient historian.

Returning from a visit to the theatre on the mainland to see a production of Macbeth, Mr Verity and the other guests arrive at the Barnacle Hotel to discover the lifeless body of Celia Whitely, the retired actress.

He finds the old lady's Will, and questions each of the guests and staff in turn, his suspicions and accusations upsetting them in the process.