The Case of the Four Friends

Late at night in the Senior Common Room of St Thomas's College, Ernst Brendel is persuaded by his companions to relate a tale of murder, blackmail, and corruption. A wager is made, half a crown to the first person to guess the murderer correctly. But the game is not so simple. The crime involves four friends, each with the potential to be the murderer – or the victim.

Brendel employs the art of 'pre-detection', uncovering motive and cause before the crime has even been committed. But does he...