Book excerpt: A houseful of people he loathes is not Sir Arthur's worst problem... It should have been a lovely English country-house weekend. But the unfortunate guest list is enough to exasperate a saint, and the host, Sir Arthur Billingham-Smith, is an abusive wretch hated by everyone from his disinherited son to his wife's stoic would-be lover. When Sir Arthur is found stabbed to death, no one is particularly grieved—and no one has an alibi. The unhappy guests find themselves under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard's cool-headed Inspector Harding, who has solved tough cases before. But this time, the talented young inspector discovers much more than he's bargained for. "Miss Heyer's characters and dialogue are an abiding delight to me...I have seldom met people to whom I have taken so violent a fancy from the word 'Go.'" —Dorothy L. Sayers "Heyer is an author to read—this means you!" —New York Herald Tribune "Miss Heyer has the delightful talent of blending humor with mystery." —Boston Evening Transcript