Black Dagger Crime

Kirkus Reviews - "The detective novel for a change and a most able job, this two-part dissection is first focussed on the accused as he reveals himself to the consulting psychiatrist, then on his trial and its ramifications. John Wilkins has blackouts, is unhappily married, recognizes his fantasy life in his romantic dreaming about Sheila, a local librarian, is upset about his work. A rising silk takes the defense, Wilkins' family hires a private detective, the trial produces damaging witnesses for Wilkins' murder of Sheila, and the finale is a double-play of ingenuity. British -- and of the best."

>A live transmission of a play is underway at Broadcasting House. Actor Sidney Parson performs well in the scene in which he is murdered. But then his body is discovered in Studio 7C. It turns out the murder was for real, and that everyone who listened to the play had heard him die again.

> Life had been good for Paddy Yeatman-Carter. First-class Rugby and good beer at eightpence a pint before the war; during the war, command of the finest regiment in the British Army. But peace-time life as a clerk was more than a bit dim - until he saw an attempted suicide and decided to intervene. That act of good nature cost him his job and plunged him into the deepest intrigues of the City, where he and his friends walked in the shadow of death.