The Decent Inn of Death

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About “The Decent Inn of Death”

On a trip into Winchester, former chief inspector Angus Sinclair learns of a tragedy that has taken place in the village he is staying in. Beloved church organist Greta Hartmann has slipped and fallen to her death in a shallow creek, and while investigations conclude it to be an accident, her friend and housemate, Vera, remains unconvinced. After learning that Greta was the widow of a prominent anti-Nazi German preacher, Sinclair meets with the distraught Vera, and he resolves to dig deeper into the story. His investigations lead him to the stately manor of Julia Lesage, where she lives with her devoted staff that includes her secretary, cook, and driver. Though confined to a wheelchair, Julia is an electrifying spirit with a sharp wit, and those who know her adore her. Among those who do, a gentleman with dubious business dealings is also staying at the house--and Julia appears to be in love with him. A blizzard hits, keeping Sinclair, and later Madden, on the grounds with little to do but analyze the case of Greta's death, until a murder takes place, and everyone becomes a suspect. (Description courtesy of Penguin Random House.)

Praise for “The Decent Inn of Death”

“[The Decent Inn of Death] is a locked-room murder mystery that rivals the best of Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell or P.D. James.”

— BookPage

“Move over, Inspectors Alleyn, Dalgliesh, and Morse, and make room for John Madden in the pantheon of great, civilized English sleuths.”

— The New Yorker

“Madden is seamlessly admirable…In an era when our real-life heroes tend to have feet of thick, grubby clay, it can be bracing to spend time with a man who is naturally but not implausibly noble.”

— The Washington Post Book World

Book details

First published
2020
Latest edition
2020 · ISBN 9780143134299
Pages
368

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is The Decent Inn of Death?

The Decent Inn of Death by Airth, Rennie has 368 pages.

Book descriptions, author biographies, award records and review quotes on this page are courtesy of Penguin Random House.