The golden age of the detective left many star names — A. Christie, G. K. Chesterton, G. Mitchell, and others. In this bright constellation, John Dickson Carr (1906–1977) holds the most honorable place. Murder in a locked room, where there is no place for frantic chases and shootouts, and the circle of suspects is maximally limited, is the author's favorite device. Carr entices the reader into the web of cleverly laid traps, deceptive moves, and subtle hints, inviting them to participate in solving an ingenious puzzle, unraveling the threads of 'impossible' crimes.
A plane flying from Marseille to Paris makes an emergency landing near the Loire, and the passengers are forced to seek temporary shelter in the secluded Château de l'Île. Among the guests of the castle, Sir Henry Merrivale unexpectedly appears along with two agents of the British secret service. Additionally, it is known that one of the most dangerous and elusive criminals in France is in the castle, whose face no one knows, as well as the chief inspector of the French police. Dramatic events will not be long in coming…
