Book Description

This first act of a mystery series by an Edgar Award winner, Broadway producer/amateur sleuth Peter Duluth delivers “your money’s worth of theatrics” (Kirkus Reviews). Patrick Quentin, best known for the Peter Duluth puzzle mysteries, also penned outstanding detective novels from the 1930s through the 1960s under other pseudonyms, including Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge. Anthony Boucher wrote: “Quentin is particularly noted for the enviable polish and grace which make him one of the leading American fabricants of the murderous comedy of manners; but this surface smoothness conceals intricate and meticulous plot construction as faultless as that of Agatha Christie.” Peter Duluth was once an up-and-comer on the Great White Way. But after his wife died, he dove into a bottle and stayed there. It’s only when he’s about to hit rock bottom that he decides to dry out, admitting himself into rehab to save his life. Unfortunately, Peter’s new home turns out to be even more dangerous than the outside world when a staff member is murdered, and a patient soon checks out in a similar manner. Peter thinks he may have an idea of what’s going on, but isn’t sure what he’s hearing and seeing is real, or if the DTs are still playing with his head. When a beautiful fellow patient falls under suspicion, Peter realizes that the deadly mystery is offering him not only a new life, but also a new love. All he has to do now is find a crazed killer in a place where crazy is the norm . . .