The crooked cross

In the stifling heat of a June that refuses to cool, a weary narrator finds himself trapped in a city consumed by a lingering murder trial. He spends languid evenings in Bartley’s grand library, surrounded by rare French prints, obscure pamphlets, and the lingering scent of old paper, while the relentless sun presses down on the streets below. The setting feels both opulent and claustrophobic, a place where intellectual treasures sit beside the dull churn of courtroom gossip.

When Bartley receives an unexpected letter from his old friend Carter—a charismatic former secret‑service operative now retired on a secluded estate—the prospect of an escape surfaces. The invitation promises a summer away from the courtroom’s tense atmosphere, yet the unresolved testimony looms, hinting at hidden motives and a mystery that may follow them to the countryside. The stage is set for a summer that could blend leisurely exploration with shadows from the still‑unfolding case.