Death at Swaythling Court

Bordering on a parody this is an early Connington novel with an unusual light-hearted tone not found in his later books with Sir Clinton Driffield. The story involves the invention of a lethal ray and the attempts of Jimmy Leigh, the inventor, to acquire financing to start a manufacturing business. His mistake is that he chooses as his primary back William Hubbard, a wealthy, lisping, butterfly collector who also happens to be a despicable blackmailer.