The black stage

the long version

Among the visitors to the Verekers' family mansion of Four Acres was Lewis Bishop — the perfect victim, whom everyone had reason to hate and fear. When he is suddenly shot dead in the darkness of the library one night all he leaves behind him is an unpleasant memory and a pretty puzzle for the police and, of course, for Arthur Crook, that irrepressible and slightly unscrupulous detective who is in particularly fine form.