For the Defence

A retired major has turned his modest Surrey estate into a haven for two orphaned boys whose lives were shattered by loss and scandal. He renames the property “Ashantee” in tribute to his distant campaign, and devotes himself to raising the children as his own, guiding one toward a military career and the other toward the law. Their quiet upbringing, however, is set against a backdrop of lingering secrets and the lingering shadows of the past.

When a mysterious “devil‑stick” surfaces and a series of unsettling events begin to unfold, the household’s tranquility is tested. Unexplained noises, strange perfumes, and a sudden cry in the night draw the attention of a sharp‑witted detective, while the major’s own sense of duty pushes him to uncover the truth. Listeners will be drawn into a world where loyalty, honor, and hidden motives collide, setting the stage for a gripping mystery that unfolds from the very first chapter.