The Man With Two Left Feet

More about the book

There's a divinity that shapes our ends. Consider Henry Pifield Rice, a detective of sorts. To avoid disappointment, I must clarify that he was not your typical sleuth. Employed at Stafford's International Investigation Bureau in the Strand, Henry's role did not involve solving baffling mysteries. He had never measured a footprint or understood bloodstains; his tasks were mundane, like standing outside a restaurant in the rain to note when someone left. His colleagues referred to him with nicknames like 'Fathead' and 'That blighter what's-his-name.' Henry lived in a boarding-house on Guildford Street, where a new girl, Alice Weston, joined him at meals. Small, quiet, and rather pretty, they quickly hit it off. Their initial conversations about the weather and movies evolved into a deeper connection. Henry was surprised to learn that Alice was a chorus girl, unlike previous boarders who were more boisterous and wore beauty spots. Alice was different, and their budding relationship began to change Henry's otherwise commonplace life.