"Todd's astute character studies . . . offer a fascinating cross section of postwar life. . . . A satisfying puzzle-mystery." — The New York Times Book Review Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledgeis assigned one of the most baffling investigations of his career: an unsolvedmurder case with an unidentified victim and a cold trail with few clues tofollow A woman has been murdered at the foot of a megalithshaped like a great shrouded figure. Chief Inspector Brian Leslie, one of theYard’s best men, is sent to investigate the site in Avebury, a village setinside a prehistoric stone circle not far from Stonehenge. In spite of hisefforts, Leslie is not able to identify her, much less discover how she got toAvebury—or why she died there. Her killer has simply left no trace. Several weeks later, when Ian Rutledge has returned from successfullyconcluding a similar case with an unidentified victim, he is asked to take asecond look at Leslie’s inquiry. But Rutledge suspects Chief Superintendent Markhamsimply wants him to fail. Leslie was right—Avebury refuses to yield its secrets. But Rutledgeslowly widens his search, until he discovers an unexplained clue that seems topoint toward an impossible solution. If he pursues it and he is wrong, he willdraw the wrath of the Yard down on his head. But even if he is right, he can’tbe certain what he can prove, and that will play right into Markham’s game. Theeasy answer is to let the first verdict stand: Person or persons unknown. Butwhat about the victim? What does Rutledge owe this tragic young woman? Wheremust his loyalty lie?
