
In a windswept corner of old Cornwall, the tranquil gardens of Trembath Manor become the stage for a series of unsettling crimes. Squire Vivian, a genial yet quick‑tempered gentleman, is rattled by trampled tulips, a drained fish‑pond, and the brutal death of his faithful mastiff, Borlase. He turns to the parish’s own Parson Trant, whose keen eye and methodical mind begin to piece together clues among the hedgerows and stone‑strewn paths.
The narrative follows their uneasy partnership as they sift through evidence, interrogate servants, and wrestle with the squire’s own shortcomings in judgment. Their search for the hidden stone that killed the dog reveals more than a simple mischief‑maker; it exposes the tangled loyalties and hidden resentments of a close‑knit rural community. With vivid descriptions and a touch of dry humor, the story invites listeners into a world where honor, duty, and the quiet drama of country life collide.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (531K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-05-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
b. 1874
Best known for a vivid Cornish novel first published in 1905, this early 20th-century writer brought rural Cornwall to life with local color and a strong sense of place.
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