Detectives Sloan and Crosby find themselves assigned two rather puzzling cases. First, there’s the young woman’s body which has been discovered in the River Alm. And then there’s the mysterious break-in at the Berebury Nursing Home. To be precise, it’s Josephine Short’s room at the nursing home that’s been entered, although nothing seems to be missing. What could the intruder have been after? It becomes apparent to Sloan and Crosby that the two cases are connected—but who can the killer be?
Catherine Aird (1930–2024) was the author of more than twenty books of detective mysteries and three collections of short stories, most of which feature Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan and Detective Constable W. E. Crosby. Aird held an honorary master’s degree from the University of Kent and was appointed an MBE in 1998. In recognition of her significant contribution to crime writing she was awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger in 2015.
Ric Jerrom is an actor, writer, and—occasionally—director. He has also narrated audiobooks in genres from classics to romantic fiction to mystery and suspense, winning three AudioFile Earphones Awards and placing as a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award. He has written plays, film scripts, short stories, poetry, and journalism. He has performed in many radio plays, sundry theaters, and internationally for the Natural Theatre Company of Bath.