My dear James

You have always been one of the most faithful and kindly of my readers and I was seriously pertubed when I received from you a word of criticism.

You complained that my murders were getting too refined-anaemic, in fact. You yearned for a ‘good violent murder with lots of blood’. A murder where there was no doubt about its being murder!

So this is your special story-written for you. I hope it may please.

Your affectionate sister-in-law