Entertaining, but as characterizes this genre of mystery, a little contrived. The red herrings were indeed effective, but in the end the story did not affect me very much. The best scene was Maltravers facing down the police chief, Madden. ( )

Maltravers, play-write; visiting a town celebrating church’s history; they’re having Mystery Plays, revised. His sister is married to the minister. Brings an actress friend to do reading; she has a somewhat shady reputation (did a nude scene). Her program is “woman”-centered; some churchmen may frown. Mostly receives good reviews. Then she disappears at garden lunch; then hand is nailed on door .. another appears … assume she’s dead .. who has motive ? Fan or Fanatic ? ( )

Great story placed in an English cathedral town. A detective chief superintendent (who has never lost a case) is in charge of a missing persons or murder investigation. A valuable bible has also disappeared. The main suspect has vanished into the countryside. Severed hands appear on doors and in the mail. Our superintendent gets help from a playright, in spite of himself. Very intertaining. ( )