A festive atmosphere envelops the line of people waiting for one of the last showings of a popular London musical comedy. Excitement is so big, and crowd is so large that people are being carried rather than walking. As the line eventually reaches the box office one man drops on his knees and slowly spreads on the floor. People jump to help, thinking he had fainted, but get horrified when they see a knife stuck in his back. There are so many witnesses, but nobody saw anything and nobody can tell when it happened as the man has been held upright for a while, carried by the moving crowd. Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is summoned to investigate the case. Known for his wit and guile Inspector Grant will have to deal with a lot of false leads and clues, which will take him all the way to Scotland, in order to solve this mysterious murder case.

Robert Blair, a local solicitor, is called on to defend two women, Marion Sharpe and her mother, who are accused of kidnapping and beating a fifteen-year-old Betty Kane. As the Sharpes are about to be interviewed by local police and Scotland Yard, represented by Inspector Alan Grant, Marion calls Blair and, although his firm does not do criminal cases, he agrees to come out to their home, "The Franchise", to look out for their interests during the questioning. The case against them is quite strong. The Sharpe women are accused that one night they approached Betty while she was waiting for a bus and offered her a lift. Then they allegedly took her to the Franchise, demanded that she become a domestic worker, and, upon her refusal, imprisoned her in the attic. Betty alleges that they starved and beat her until she escaped. As interest in the case builds over a few weeks, locals engage in overt hostility against the Sharpes: public snubbing, then graffiti on their walls, then smashing of the windows; the vandalism culminates when the Franchise is destroyed by arson. Blair slowly uncovers clue after clue in order to find holes in Betty's story, also pointing out her character flaws. But no matter how good of a job Blair does, case against Marion and her mother is strong and public pressure threatens to culminate.

DigiCat presents to you the best Josephine Tey murder mysteries and detective books in one ebook edition. Inspector Alan Grant is a Scotland Yard detective who relies on his instincts and often goes against the evidence if his gut feeling says so. He is thorough and systematic in his investigations and always pulls through. Contents: "The Man in the Queue" (or Killer in the Crowd) – Inspector Grant investigates a murder of a man who was stabbed in the ticket line in front of theatre. There are numerous witnesses, but nobody saw anything. "A Shilling for Candles" – Inspector Grant investigates a drowning of a young actress which first seems like an accident, but as investigation moves forward, Grant's clues spell murder. "The Franchise Affair" – Inspector Grant prosecutes two women accused for kidnapping young girl starving her, beating her and forcing her to work domestic chores. "To Love and Be Wise" – Inspector Grant investigates disappearance of a young and desirable photographer who had many female admirers, but also many jealous competitors. "The Daughter of Time" – Inspector Grant is in hospital with a broken leg. With the help of friends, patients and medical staff Grant researches King Richard III, his life and conduct, and investigates his alleged crimes. "The Singing Sands" – Inspector Grant takes a sick leave from Scotland Yard and plans a quiet holiday in Scotland. Traveling by a train, Grant discovers a dead man and a cryptic message which turns his sick leave to a full time work and a perilous adventure. Other Mysteries: Miss Pym Disposes Brat Farrar (Come and Kill Me)

A suspicious cask arrives in London dock which when unloading slips and cracks open to reveal gold sovereigns. While the bystanders scramble to pick up the gold, the dock inspector finds a hand of a dead woman buried underneath. To his absolute bewilderment, the next day, the cask has disappeared! Now it is up to Inspector Burnley of Scotland Yard to solve the mystery of the cask as well as the murder of the woman.

Thipps, an architect, finds a dead body wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez in the bath of his London flat. Lord Peter Wimsey—a nobleman who has recently developed an interest in criminal investigation as a hobby—resolves to investigate the matter privately. Leading the official investigation is Inspector Sugg, who suggests that the body may be that of the famous financier Sir Reuben Levy, who disappeared from his bedroom in mysterious circumstances the night before. Sir Reuben's disappearance is in the hands of Inspector Charles Parker, a friend of Wimsey's. Although the body in the bath superficially resembles that of Sir Reuben, it quickly becomes clear that it is not him, and it appears that the cases may be unconnected! So whose body is it anyway? Read on!

A festive atmosphere envelops the line of people waiting for one of the last showings of a popular London musical comedy. Excitement is so big, and crowd is so large that people are being carried rather than walking. As the line eventually reaches the box office one man drops on his knees and slowly spreads on the floor. People jump to help, thinking he had fainted, but get horrified when they see a knife stuck in his back. There are so many witnesses, but nobody saw anything and nobody can tell when it happened as the man has been held upright for a while, carried by the moving crowd. Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is summoned to investigate the case. Known for his wit and guile Inspector Grant will have to deal with a lot of false leads and clues, which will take him all the way to Scotland, in order to solve this mysterious murder case.