The Layton Court Mystery

A woman vanishes from a quiet country estate. The only clue: her body appears hours later, miles away.

When the disappearance of a young woman at Layton Court turns into a baffling murder case, the official explanation is swift and confident. The solution seems obvious, the motive clear, and the evidence conclusive. But novelist and amateur detective Roger Sheringham is unconvinced. As Sheringham examines the timeline, the geography, and the psychology behind the crime, cracks begin to form in the accepted theory. What looked like a straightforward case becomes something far more complex—and far more disturbing. The Layton Court Mystery introduces Roger Sheringham in his first major investigation, showcasing Anthony Berkeley's sharp intellect, innovative plotting, and early challenge to conventional detective logic.

A lean, thought-provoking classic, this is Golden Age mystery fiction that values reasoning over spectacle and rewards readers who enjoy clever twists and intellectual surprise.