When song-and-dance star Jimmy Sutane falls victim to a string of malicious practical jokes, there's only one man who can get to the bottom of the apparent vendetta against the music hall darling — Albert Campion. Soon, however, the backstage pranks escalate and an ageing starlet is killed. Under pressure to uncover the culprit and plagued by his growing feelings for Sutane's wife, Campion finds himself uncomfortably embroiled in an investigation which tests his ingenuity and integrity to the limit. "Allingham's work is always of the first rank." (New York Times) "The real queen of crime." (Guardian) "Allingham captures her quintessential quiet detective Albert Campion to perfection... For those who relish classic crime fiction." (Daily Express) "Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light." (Agatha Christie) "Margery Allingham has worked her way up to a worthy place among the tiny hierarchy of front-rankers in the detective world." (Tatler)