Various Authors (2019)
This classic crime novel, penned by six distinct authors, is presented with an introduction by Martin Edwards, archivist of the Detection Club. It features a previously unpublished preface by Agatha Christie, titled "Detective Writers in England," where she shares her writing methods and insights into her fellow Detection Club members. The plot centers on the murder of Lord Comstock, a powerful newspaper tycoon with numerous adversaries. His death in his country house study presents a complex dilemma for the Home Secretary, as key figures like the government Chief Whip, an Archbishop, and the Assistant Commissioner for Scotland Yard were among his visitors shortly before his demise. Suspicion falls on all of them, jeopardizing the integrity of any official police inquiry. In an unconventional move, the Home Secretary enlists four renowned detectives to crack the case.