by John Bude (Author), Martin Edwards (Introduction by)
Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder
"The 'stranger in a strange land' premise works really well in this revived mystery...Bude infuses the tale with comic commentary throughout." --Booklist
'Small hostilities were growing; vague jealousies were gaining strength; and far off, wasn't there a nebulous hint of approaching tragedy in the air?'
Welworth Garden City in the 1940s is a forward-thinking town where free spirits find a home--vegetarians, socialists, and an array of exotic religious groups. Chief among these are the Children of Osiris, led by the eccentric High Prophet, Eustace K. Mildmann. The cult is a seething hotbed of petty resentment, jealousy and dark secrets--which eventually lead to murder. The stage is set for one of Inspector Meredith's most bizarre and exacting cases.
This witty crime novel by a writer on top form is a neglected classic of British crime fiction.
Author Biography
JOHN BUDE was the pseudonym of Ernest Elmore (1901-1957), an author of the golden age of crime fiction. Elmore was a cofounder of the Crime Writers' Association, and worked in the theatre as a producer and director.