The newly formed Ministry of Fine Arts has a staffing problem - one minister dead within six months of its inception, his successor snuffed out shortly before the General Election. When a third victim, Permanent Secretary Edwin Pompfret is fatally crushed by the fall of a giant bust, Inspector Julian Rivers is drawn into a case of murder of artistic devilment.

"Her best yet. A classic story with well concealed and ingenious clues, sufficiently difficult to leave us properly surprised by both murderer and method." Spectator, 1953

Carol Carnac was a pen name used by Edith Caroline Rivett (18941958), a prolific English crime writer who also wrote as E.C.R. Lorac. She was a member of the prestigious Detection Club, and was lauded for the detailed and atmospheric settings of her mysteries. Her books include Murder by Matchlight, Bats in the Belfry, Crossed Skis and Death of an Author, all available as British Library Crime Classics.