
A crisp December morning finds a modest drawing‑room buzzing with chatter about a shocking headline: the King of Illyria has been assassinated. Amid the whistling wind and the clatter of tea cups, Mrs. Arbuthnot presides over a gathering of idiosyncratic guests—lawyers, journalists, and a flamboyant relative named Joseph Jocelyn—each offering their own brand of commentary on the unfolding crisis. The scene is painted with a dry, witty humor that underlines the absurdity of high‑politics colliding with everyday domesticity.
Narrated by a keen‑observing chronicler, the story follows this eclectic troupe as they grapple with rumors, diplomatic missteps, and a series of baffling clues that hint at a deeper conspiracy. Their banter and bickering mask a genuine quest for truth, as the narrator pieces together the first fragments of a mystery that could reshape international relations. The opening act promises a clever blend of satire and suspense, inviting listeners to untangle the intrigue one witty observation at a time.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (498K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
2011-02-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1936
A Nottingham professional cricketer who built a second career as a novelist, he wrote popular fiction in the early 20th century and left behind a long list of books now circulating in the public domain. His unusual path from county cricket to the literary world gives his work an extra layer of period charm.
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