5John Sebastian Lafcadio's ambition to be known as the greatest painter since Rembrandt was not to be thwarted by a matter as trifling as his own death. A set of twelve sealed paintings is left in the hands of his widow, together with the instruction that she unveil one canvas each year before a carefully selected audience. Albert Campion is invited to join a cast of gadabouts, muses, and socialites to witness the eighth unveiling but they are treated instead to a murder. The lights go down, and a young man is stabbed to death. Campion must get to work on the baffling case, with its long- suspiciously long- line-up of possible killers and soon finds himself having to face his dearest enemy... 'Margery Allingham was one of the greatest mid-20th-century practitioners of the detective novel.' - Alexander McCall Smith 'Margery Allingham deserves to be rediscovered.' - P.D. James 'The real queen of crime.' - Guardian 'As addictive as cocaine.' - Independent