A visiting dignitary in London asks for securityand gets extra help from a clever felinein a novel starring "the nonpareil among criminal investigators" (The New York Times).
Superintendent Alleyn's old school chum, nicknamed the "Boomer," has become the president of the newly emerged African nation of Ng'ombwana, newly emerged in the wake of colonialism. Old school ties being what they are, his friendmaking an official visit to Londoninsists that Alleyn handle his security, rather than Her Majesty's Special Branch. The Special Branch is not best pleased about this, as the Boomer is known to have some very deadly enemies, and the threats only increase when the Ng'ombwanan ambassador is killed. Happily for the Boomer, not only is Alleyn up to the task, but he is assisted by a rescued cat who proves extremely adept at finding clues . . .
"The brilliant Ngaio Marsh ranks with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." Times Literary Supplement