When members of a newspaper come to town in order to find out which residents of Flaxborough have participated in a blue film, there is immediate outrage by the mayor. This is fueled by the fact of an oculist who has recently purchased a pair of dueling pistols and wants to get some use out of them. When the mayor goes to the local newspaper editor, Kimble, the oculist, Hoole, is there and they convince Mayor Hockley to challenge Clive Grail to a duel to defend the town's honor.

But while Grail has no desire to participate, he's also in a bit of a quandary. It seems that he and the rest of his crew have watched the film, along with Kimble and one of his reporters - who informs them that there is a bit of a problem with it. In fact, if it were to get out, Grail could be made a laughingstock.

So Grail and his cronies devise a way to exit the situation: fake a kidnapping and demand the film never be shown - and, as his "friends" have devised among themselves without his knowledge - the added bit of a 'ransom' of fifteen thousand pounds. But something goes terribly wrong, and that's when DI Purbright steps in...

This is another wonderful mystery from the mind of Colin Watson. DI Purbright learns about the duel from his chief constable, Mr. Chubb, and does his best to inform the parties that it might be better if it didn't go off, being illegal and all. But then he learns about the film and when he discovers something more fatal along the way, it is up to himself and his team of officers to try and find the truth of the matter.

It is enjoyable indeed to watch our Purbright at work as he puts the clues together, and I love this series and wish there were more (alas, it was not to be as Mr. Watson passed away in 1982). Purbright is an intelligent man who has a way of watching people and learning things from them without even apparently trying. The endings are not traditional, as it were, but still things are always wrapped up tidily. However, while they can be read as stand alone novels, I suggest you begin with the first and read them in order. Highly recommended. ( )

A newspaper team has been sent to the small Market Town of Flaxborough to investigate a pornographic film in which prominent members of the community have taken part. One of the reporters is challenged to a duel by the Mayor and puts himself into hiding. Things get sticky,when his body is discovered in a disused railway station. Was he killed by the Mayor ? did he die of natural causes ? Or is there a more sinister reason for his death ? Inspector Purbright sets out to discover the truth.
This is not one of Colin Watson's better tales as we do not have so much to do with the usual stock characters. None the less this is a fairly acceptable yarn and one that is worth the time spent reading. ( )