Perfect Gallows

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In this masterful tale of greed, deception, and murder, the twisted circumstances surrounding an unspeakable crime, an old man’s fortune, and a production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest unfold four decades later. Renowned actor Adrian Waring, beneath his cheerful facade, is haunted by a past linked to his wealthy uncle, Arnold Wragge, who returned from South Africa with a fortune and a devoted servant, Samuel Mkele. When Wragge's son vanished during the war, he saw Andrew, Adrian's younger self, as a potential heir. However, Andrew was more captivated by the allure of theater and the attention of young women, leading him to star in his cousin’s amateur production of The Tempest. This choice would set off a chain of events culminating in a horrific tragedy, forcing Andrew to conceal a terrible truth for decades—even after a body was discovered hanging from a dovecote gallows. Peter Dickinson, a master of mystery and murder, stands alongside the greats of British crime fiction, showcasing his innovative storytelling in this gripping psychological thriller.