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The Hidden Assassinsby: Robert Wilson |
Secret of Annex 3by Colin DexterThe New Year has inspired the Haworth Hotel in Oxford to offer its cut-rate, two-day special for the third time running. The offer is accepted by a number of holiday revelers, including those put up in the four rooms of the as yet unfinished Annex. Sarah Jonstone, the acting receptionist-manageress, has all she can do to remain awake since the owner, John Binyon, has requested her to remain on duty for the New Year. Dead tired, Sarah had been looking forward to time off after the Christmas rush. But John's wife Caroline has caught the flu and won't be able to take her place. Before their scheduled arrival at the Haworth Hotel for New Year's Eve, Margaret Bowman attends a funeral, with the approval of her husband Tom. Tom, however, is a secret drinker, and when he heads for his stash as soon as his wife is gone, he sees the purse she exchanged for another when she dressed for the funeral. He decides to open it – and discovers a four page letter proving his wife has been unfaithful. He replaces the letter, but far from being angry at his wife, he turns his anger instead to the unknown male. At the hotel, New Year's Eve means a fancy-dress ball, with first prize going to a Rastafarian who has even darkened his skin with some kind of stage makeup that unfortunately comes off on everything he touches, including Sarah's blouse. Groggy with half a headache from too many cocktails, Sarah does see the Rastafarian from her bedroom window - with two women on either side, followed by a Samurai and Lawrence of Arabia. The Lord High Executioner is behind them all, bringing up the rear. Sarah knows the Lord High Executioner is John Binyon, who follows the others to the Annex, goes in with them, and returns shortly after, locking the Annex door behind him. In the morning the Rastafarian is discovered dead, lying across one of the twin beds, with the window wide open. The Chief Constable of Oxfordshire has contacted Chief Inspector Morse' superior, and since the Haworth Hotel is just down the street from where Morse lives, his superior tells him he can take his furlough later. Morse is to look into the murder, for that's what it is – the Rastafarian's head is a bloody mess from a major whack. Sergeant Lewis accompanies Morse to the incomplete Annex, observing the larger tools and boards along the way, including a huge crane. Much to Morse' disgust, Binyon has already permitted some of his guests to leave – including one pair who skipped out without paying their bill. Morse reviews all information pertaining to the Annex inhabitants with Sarah. Room 1 was occupied by the Palmers, Room 2 inhabited after a sudden cancellation by a John Smith and his partner, Room 3, where the murder had occurred, was booked by a Mrs. Ballard and her husband. Mr. Ballard was the Rastafarian. Room 4 was reserved for a Doris Arkwright. Following each lead, Morse discovers the addresses given for the Ballards as well as the Smiths are both nonexistent. Yet the Haworth Hotel letter had reached the Ballards somehow – because there was the letter of confirmation sent back. Then Morse later learns the address for Doris Arkwright is faked as well. Colin Dexter has invented a marvelous puzzle for the reader to try and solve. With scant clues and seemingly innocent circumstances, Mr. Dexter gets his protagonist Morse to put everything together and come up with not only the murderer, but how it was accomplished. And the manner in which it was done is something that intrigued me to the very end of the book with its final revelation. Colin Dexter is very, very good. Alan Paul Curtis |
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