Originally published in 1948 this is part of a beautifully packaged reprint of the entire Gervase Fen series from Vintage Books. It's also one of my "read whatever I bloody want" treats. (Not that reading review books / discussion books etc isn't a privilege, it's just sometimes you just want to read on a whim!)
From the Blurb:
In the sleepy English village of Sanford Angelorum, Professor Gervase Fen is taking a break from his books to run for Parliament. At first glance, the village he's come to canvass seems perfectly peaceful, but Fen soon discovers that appearances can be deceptive: someone in the village has discovered a dark secret and is using it for blackmail.
Opening Lines:
'Sanford Angelorum all change,' said the station-master. 'Sanford Angelorum, all change.'
In the sleepy English village of Sanford Angelorum, Professor Gervase Fen is taking a break from his books to run for Parliament. At first glance, the village he's come to canvass seems perfectly peaceful, but Fen soon discovers that appearances can be deceptive; someone in the village has discovered a dark secret and is using it for blackmail. Anyone who comes close to uncovering the blackmailer's identity is swiftly dispatched.