The Blurb for At Death’s Door and the Contents

From the front flap of the dust jacket of the first (and only) edition of At Death’s Door by Leo Bruce, published by Hamish Hamilton (London, 1955):

Leo Bruce has put Sergeant Beef out to grass and introduces us to a new more sophisticated detective, Carolus Deene, with an odious schoolboy assistant, Rupert Priggley.  Deene is an elegant schoolmaster, rather in the Peter Wimsey tradition, rich enough to run a Bentley and an acknowledged and published authority on historical crime.

Leo Bruce’s characterisation is as good as ever, and his dialogue needs to be savoured, for its horrible and perpetually amusing veracity.  Though there are, as usual, satire and comedy, they do not spoil the truly baffling mystery.  The denouement will surprise both the hardened mystery addict and the wildest guesser.

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  LIST OF CHAPTERS 

 

1	The Day before the Murder
2	The Shop Door Was Not Locked
3	A Working Hypothesis
4	Carolus Is Busy
5	Visit to Mr. and Mrs. Polling
6	Visit to Marcia and Jane
7	Visit to Mr. and Mrs. Baker
8	A Visit from the Police
9	Behind the Shop
10	The Life of Emily Purvice
11	Bugs Fitchley
12	Carolus Tries a Pin-Table
13	Some Facts Exchanged
14	Mr. Colbeck
15	Pear Tree Farm
16	Marcia Confesses
17	Mrs. Polling Breaks Down
18	Jimmy Owns Up
19	Dick Purvice Found
20	End of Term
21	Connie Slapper
22	Afternoon Watch
23	Disaster in the Sun
24	Newminster Hears
25	Another Attempt
26	All Concerned
27	Carolus Explains
28	A Fatal Woman
29	Late Night Final