Publisher's Synopsis
"Horace Manning, scientist, recluse, and "closed book" even to his friends, is found dead in his study at 4 a.m., following a dinner in honour of his daughter's engagement. An ivory-handled carving knife rests between his shoulder blades as the houseguests gather round to witness the awful crime. The telephone line has been sabotaged-a calculated murder has been committed. Rewinding twelve hours, the events of the afternoon and evening unfold, revealing a multitude of clues and motives from a closed cast of suspects until the narrative reaches 4 a.m. again-then races on to its riveting conclusion at 4 p.m., as the reader is led twice round the clock"--.
