The Riddle of the Night

A night of fog and sudden gunfire drags Scotland Yard’s top detective, Hamilton Cleek, into the shadowy lanes of Wimbledon Common. The superintendent’s limousine screeches to a halt amid the mist, and a frantic police whistle signals a murder in progress. From the first moments, Cleek’s talent for disguise and his uncanny ability to vanish into any crowd promise a chase that will test both his wits and his reputation as “The Man of the Forty Faces.”

The body belongs to Count Franz de Louvisan, whose death threatens to unravel a tangled web of aristocratic intrigue. Lady Katherine Fordham, the grieving daughter of Lord St. Ulmer, is caught between a forced engagement and a forbidden love, while Cleek, aided by his loyal assistant Dollops, must navigate jealous relatives, secret motives, and the ever‑watchful eyes of Yard sergeants. The stage is set for a classic whodunit where every clue could lead to a new disguise and every suspect hides a deeper secret.