The Riddle of the RiverOn a balmy summer in 1898 Vanessa Wetherburn is contentedly feeding a clotted cream scone to her young son in her Cambridge garden when she is startled by the abrupt arrival of her long-time friend, the journalist Patrick O'Sullivan. Eager to discover the identity of a beautiful young woman found floating in the River Cam, Pat has called on the one woman he knows is sure to be able to solve the mystery. Over recent years Vanessa has garnered a reputation for solving crimes - including murders, thefts and blackmail attempts - but never before has she faced an unknown victim. She is at a loss to know where to begin. As Vanessa considers what to do, her first important clue arrives in the form of Ernest Dixon, who is worried by the disappearance of his favorite actress; a young woman named Ivy Elliot, who was playing the part of Ophelia. Could the missing girl and unidentified body be one and the same woman? Beautifully written and thoroughly researched, this latest case for the talented Mrs. Weatherburn proves to be her most perplexing yet. |
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actress alibi Arthur asked believe bookshop bracelet brother Burke-Jones Cambridge cried dark Darwin dead girl door dress Ernest eyes face father feeling felt fingers flat front gentleman Geoffrey Archer glanced Guglielmo Marconi hair hand heard Heffers hour Inspector Doherty Ivy Elliott Ivy's Jenny Julian Archer Kakuro Kathleen killed kind knew lady leave letters live London looked Marconi Marconi Company marry Midsummer Night's Dream minutes Miss Elliott Miss Wolcombe murderer never night once opened Ophelia perceived perhaps Philip Archer play police quickly realised remember replied seemed silent Sir Oliver Lodge smile stared stood street suddenly Sudoku sure talk telepathy tell theatre things thought Three Body Problem Titania told took turned upstairs Vanessa voice waiting walked waves Weatherburn Widge window woman wondering words yacht young