Treble Exposure

As usual, Morice typifies British understatement and cool wit in the 22nd whodunit chronicled by actress Tessa Crichton. Set in Oxford and London, the story involves Tessa, her husband, Superintendent Roger Price of Scotland Yard and reclusive cousin Toby with a group of American tourists. Among them is a close friend, Lorraine Thurloe, chaperoning young Beverly Finkelstein, who has recently recovered from a nervous collapse. The visitors are guests of Tessa and Toby at his home near Oxford where a woman is found strangled after Beverly returns from a solitary walk. Investigating the murder, Roger goes with Tessa to a party in Lorraine's London hotel in order to meet the other members of the touring company. The detective's interest in Beverly sharpens as he learns of the girl's erratic behavior and her reaction to the sudden death of a wheelchair-bound woman in the group. Again, however, it's Tessa's insight that helps Roger to solve the case as events reach a suspenseful climax. (March)