This old book (1938) about an old London townhouse has terrific atmosphere! A Regency townhouse, once owned by a famous artist, has been converted into flats which his daughter rents out to tenants. Martia Vannery lives in her father's former studio on the ground floor. In the basement is the houseman, when she can get one, to do maintenance on the old place. On the first floor (the 2nd floor to North Americans) lives retired actor Waller Caird. Above him is the flat belonging to young widow Thelma Romney. Her sister-in-law, Juliet, is mixed up in the deaths that occur in the house and is completely terrorized. Above the Romney flat live two authors, who have sublet their place to an attractive young man named Patrick Darbley. He and his two friends specialize in rowdy parties and athletic running up and down the stairs. In the attic at the very top of the house lives an elderly woman, Miss Fanny Seeley. She is the first victim when she tumbles down the attic stairs on a night when both Darbley and Martia Vannery are hosting parties.

There is a lot of sneaking around the old house, with many doors, some of which may be sealed up or maybe not; hidden alcoves and a disused back staircase as well as the lethal main staircase. As much spooky atmosphere as you could want, and also a motive involving inheritance and genealogy which I love. This is the first book I've read by E. C. R. Lorac (real name Edith Caroline Rivett), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ( )