Camberwell and Chaney investigate the sudden appearance – and even more sudden re-disappearance – of a man who may or may not be the elder brother of the current titular ninth baronet (and therefore the actual ninth baronet), and soon end up ankle deep in bodies and chasing bloodhounds round the English countryside.

With the sudden return of missing heir and a large quantity of diamonds being stolen, this begins as fairly standard Fletcher fare. And indeed, to the characters too the initial explanations seem not at all unordinary. However, there are some pieces of the puzzle which stubbornly refuse to quite fit into place, and I was convinced for a large part of the middle of the book that I’d find the denouement either prosaic and unconvincing, or wildly implausible and unconvincing. However, Camberwell and Chaney’s routine enquiries throw up a surprising secret which puts a whole new complexion on the situation, and leads to Camberwell and Chaney - and Fletcher - resolving the matter in a surprising but very plausible manner.

One of Fletcher’s better books, I think, though the beginning and middle are a little bit of a slog at times, which keeps the rating to a 4 rather than anything higher. And while I exaggerate about them being ankle deep in bodies, and there is no gore, by the end of the book the body count was rather higher than I expected. ( )