THE TEN TEACUPS, part of the British Library Crime Classics series, was first published in 1937 and revisits the Golden Age Detective era, where an impossible crime occurs, and two men must put together the clues and solve this case.

Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters does not know what to make of the cryptic invitation he receives regarding a tea party at 4 Berwick Terrace. Yet, this invitation reminds him of an unsolved murder two years prior at another residence where ten teacups were present. Masters sends Sergeant Pollard to watch the house, where a man enters, leaves, re-enters at a later time and winds up shot to death in the attic room. Pollard cannot find anyone else on the premises. How did the man get shot, and who did it? As the investigation begins, the clues unfold and revolve around a solicitor and his wife, a secret society, an antiques dealer, a puzzle jug, a cigarette case, teacups, mechanical devices, powder burns, a hat, a dead valet, and a bloody knife. Can Masters and Sir Henry Merrivale uncover the truth before a murderer takes another life?

THE TEN TEACUPS transports readers back to the Golden Age Detective era, where a brilliant amateur detective, Sir Henry Merrivale, joins forces with a Scotland Yard Inspector to solve a locked-room mystery. The crime plotting is detailed and layered, demanding readers pay close attention to following the clues. A clue finder, a popular device found in detective novels during the time, is included and demonstrates the solid planning of this mystery. The characters are eccentric, and the writing style is intriguing, eloquently conveying the atmosphere of the time. With a slower pace than today’s modern detective novels and an intricately designed crime, this crime classic will delight readers who will enjoy the intellectual gamesmanship of the players involved.