A full-length digest paperback detective novel, first published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster in 1939, by the well-known critic, editor, and author of seven detective novels. "The detective work of Colonel Rand and Fergus O'Breen has many good points. Five suspects are provided after the murder of an elderly inventor working on a gas to counteract all war gases. The lore of playing cards and the psychology of collectors are well employed and there is a clever about-face at the end. Because of its compactness, good clues, and believability, this tale ranks as the best Boucher."--Barzun & Taylor. Appears unread! Scarce thus

Detective fiction