First published 1987
Lady Crystal Balaclava opens her birthday gifts with anticipation, surrounded by family and friends at her estate. The celebration turns deadly when she collapses from what appears to be a heart attack moments after unwrapping her presents. Officer Tibbett arrives to investigate what initially seems like a natural death of an elderly aristocrat. The timing troubles him. Lady Crystal appeared healthy before the party began. Her sudden collapse immediately after receiving her birthday gifts raises questions about coincidence versus murder. Tibbett examines each present carefully, interviews the guests, and studies the family dynamics. He discovers secrets within the Balaclava household that suggest someone wanted Lady Crystal dead. The detective must determine whether her heart simply failed or whether one of her birthday gifts delivered something more sinister than good wishes. Tibbett faces pressure to close the case quickly, but his instincts tell him Lady Crystal's death was no accident.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, murder-mystery
Setting: Estate
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Paperback · Henry Holt & Co