Magic-Lantern Murders

On the eve of his wedding to Evelyn Cheyne, who he met andfell in love with during the course of The Unicorn Murders, former spy KenwoodBlake is summoned to Devon by spymaster Sir Henry Merrivale, and asked to takepart in an undercover operation. Despite being assured he'll be back in Londonin time for the wedding the following morning, Blake is unconvinced. Once in Torquay, he is sent to investigate Paul Hogenauer, alocal scientist of German heritage, who has been dabbling in spiritualism andthe occult - a man Merrivale and Devon's Chief Constable Colonel Charterssuspect of anti-British espionage. But, on entering his house, he findsHogenauer dead in a chair in his sitting room, showing all the signs ofstrychnine poisoning. When he finds Hogenauer's friend and confidant Dr Keppeldead in his hotel room in Bristol, also apparently from strychnine poisoning,he has a seemingly impossible mystery to unravel. Can he solve the clues, bringthe killer to justice and still get to the church in time to get married in themorning?