Sergeant Beef

Possibly the most unusual mystery ever written. A murder is committed, behind closed doors, in bizarre circumstances. Three amateur detectives take the case: Lord Simon Plimsoll, Monsieur Amer Picon, and Monsignor Smith (in whom discerning readers will note likeness to some familiar literary figures). Each arrives at his own brilliant solution, startling in its originality, ironclad in its logic. Meanwhile Sergean Beef sits contemptuously in the background. "But, " says Sergean Beef, "I know who done it!"

This is one of Sgt. Beef's most interesting and perplexing cases. It involves a murder, but one in which no body can be found. Young Rogers announces to Beef and others assembled in a local pub that he has committed a murder-then takes his own life. But where is the victim? How did it happen? "I always supposed," says Beef. "a murder case started with a corpse, and then you had to find out 'oo done it. This time we know 'oo's done it, but we can't find the corpse."

One of the rarest mysteries in the author's Sergeant Beef series, Case with Four Clowns, which has only been published once in the US-more than fifty years ago - is now available in paperback for the first time. It is regarded by critics as one of Leo Bruce's most baffling mysteries. A murder is yet to be committed-that much is certain-but who will be the victim? And who will be the murderer? It is Sgt. Beef's job to discover these facts, if he can, in time to prevent the deed from being done. But when he reaches the small traveling circus where the murder is to take place, he finds that practically everyone there is seething with hatred, each has a motive which might make him a killer; and any one of a dozen people could easily be the victim. The doughty Sgt. Beef has broken some pretty tough cases, and this one-with mystery entagled within mystery-stirs the bulldog within him. The clues are there, but unless the reader is very astute, he or she will overlook them; but Sgt. Beef misses nothing.

A murder is yet to be committed-that much is certain-but who will be the victim? And who will be the murderer? It is Sgt. Beef's job to discover these facts, if he can, in time to prevent the deed from being done. But when he reaches the small traveling circus where the murder is to take place, he finds that practically everyone there is seething with hatred, each has a motive which might make him a killer; and any one of a dozen people could easily be the victim. The doughty Sgt. Beef has broken some pretty tough cases, and this one-with mystery entagled within mystery-stirs the bulldog within him. The clues are there, but unless the reader is very astute, he or she will overlook them; but Sgt. Beef misses nothing.

Once again Lionel Townsend, Beef's Dr. Watson, faithfully records the redoubtable Sergeant's escapades. Beef has left the Braxham police and gone into business for himself. Beef gets a client: Stewart Ferrars, who has been arrested for the Sydenham Murder. Beef is hired by Stewart's brother Peter to prove Stewart is innocent of the murder of Dr. Benson, who has been found stabbed in the throat in the library of Peter's gloomy Victorian mansion, The Cypresses. An ornamental dagger with Peter's fingerprints on it has been left on a table near the dead man's armchair.

Once again Lionel Townsend, Beef's Dr. Watson, faithfully records the redoubtable Sergeant's escapades. Beef has left the Braxham police and gone into business for himself. Beef gets a client: Stewart Ferrars, who has been arrested for the Sydenham Murder. Beef is hired by Stewart's brother Peter to prove Stewart is innocent of the murder of Dr. Benson, who has been found stabbed in the throat in the library of Peter's gloomy Victorian mansion, The Cypresses. An ornamental dagger with Peter's fingerprints on it has been left on a table near the dead man's armchair.

The coroner's jury found that the boy hanged in the school gymnasium had killed himself, but Sergeant Beef disagrees. He takes a job as a temporary school caretaker, abetted by the reluctant Townsend, Beef's biographer, whose brother is a master at the school. Beef's methods entail endless games of darts and beer all around in the local pub, much to Townsend's dismay of course. But when another remarkably similar murder occurs elsewhere, Beef bestirs himself to uncover the guilty.

In the cleverly plotted Case for Sergeant Beef, Mr. Wellington Chickle, a retired watchmaker, plans the perfect murder, but he chooses the wrong victim. The dead man's sister refuses to accept the idea that her brother committed suicide and calls in the unprepossessing Sgt. Beef who unravels the plot with the aid of the local police. Meanwhile, Townsend, Beef's indefatigable chronicler, comes to a completely different-and completely wrong-conclusion. A delightful read by one of the best mystery plotters who ever lived.

In the cleverly plotted Case for Sergeant Beef, Mr. Wellington Chickle, a retired watchmaker, plans the perfect murder, but he chooses the wrong victim. The dead man's sister refuses to accept the idea that her brother committed suicide and calls in the unprepossessing Sgt. Beef who unravels the plot with the aid of the local police. Meanwhile, Townsend, Beef's indefatigable chronicler, comes to a completely different-and completely wrong-conclusion. A delightful read by one of the best mystery plotters who ever lived.

Lionel Townsend is Sergeant Beef's priggish biographer, most often found exasperated by Beef's boorish manners. But now Townsend's aunt has been poisoned. Townsend must turn to Beef for assistance-he has surprisingly found himself the prime suspect of the murder. When an unpopular publisher is found hanged in the Cotswolds, it seems utterly unrelated. Beef, in his inimitable way, flatfoots his way to a stunning conclusion.

Cosmo Ducrow was a wealthy heir known to friends and family for his friendly though reclusive nature. When he is found dead on his grounds, bludgeoned by a croquet mallet, the evidence damningly points to his nephew. The deceased's closest confidant, Theo Gray, however, suspects a setup. Sergeant Beef is called upon to find the truth of who had the access and motive to so viciously murder the man.

Cosmo Ducrow was a wealthy heir known to friends and family for his friendly though reclusive nature. When he is found dead on his grounds, bludgeoned by a croquet mallet, the evidence damningly points to his nephew. The deceased's closest confidant, Theo Gray, however, suspects a setup. Sergeant Beef is called upon to find the truth of who had the access and motive to so viciously murder the man.

Lionel Townsend, Sergeant Beef's priggish biographer, has surprisingly found himself the prime suspect of a murder. When his aunt in Hastings is found poisoned, Townsend must turn to Beef for assistance. When an unpopular publisher is found hanged in the Cotswolds, it seems utterly unrelated. Beef, in his inimitable way, flatfoots his way to a stunning conclusion.

The coroner's jury found that the boy hanged in the school gymnasium had killed himself, but Sergeant Beef disagrees. He takes a job as a temporary school caretaker, abetted by the reluctant Townsend, Beef's biographer, whose brother is a master at the school. Beef's methods entail endless games of darts and beer all around in the local pub, much to Townsend's dismay of course. But when another remarkably similar murder occurs elsewhere, Beef bestirs himself to uncover the guilty.