商品簡介
A murdered doctor lies in the grounds of an isolated Essex cottage, the word "Cain" marked on his forehead. Suspicion settles quickly on Edith Danby, a hostile frequent visitor, but the apparent simplicity of the case conceals troubling questions about evidence, testimony and the force of public prejudice. Against that pressure, lawyer Richard Hustings begins testing the circumstantial case, pursuing a murder investigation in which accusation may prove easier than justice. Loyalty gives the mystery its human focus. Aileen More, Edith's steadfast companion, must confront the consequences of suspicion while Hustings traces the dead man's associations, questions witnesses and prepares a legal defence. Police procedure and amateur detection meet in a narrative attentive to how a case is assembled: through statements, disputed impressions and details that may carry more weight than they deserve. Grief, wartime trauma and private vengeance deepen the inquiry without displacing its central concern with proof. Beyond the cottage lawn and adjoining stone-pine wood, the investigation reaches into rural lanes and surrounding countryside, where apparent supernatural phenomena complicate an already uncertain search for truth. Spiritualism is approached with scepticism, leaving every strange occurrence open to examination rather than easy belief. The marked corpse, isolated settings and legal preparation create a crime-suspense novel shaped by the tension between what seems convincing and what can actually be established. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.
