An English Murder

Travel Guide

Warbeck Hall, Markshire

Warbeck Hall is reputed to be the oldest inhabited house in Markshire. The muniment room in the north eastern angle is probably its oldest part; it is certainly the coldest.

Outside

Dun-coloured clouds, threatening snow, obscured the wintry sky… the car slowed down to negotiate the hump-backed bridge over the stream that separated Warbeck village from the demesne….

The very word demesne places this novel in time and setting quite aptly – it’s a piece of land attached to a manor and retained by the owner for their own use.”

Inside:

“At ten minutes to eight Briggs carried a tray bearing a decanter of sherry and glasses into the drawing-room. At eight o’clock precisely he sounded the great Chinese gong in the hall. It was an entirely unnecessary piece of ritual, for he had already seen for himself that all five guests were present; but as a piece of ritual he enjoyed it. The deep brazen notes pulsated through the great half-empty house, penetrating into the dilapidated spare rooms where no guest had been since the First World War, rousing echoes in servants’ quarters where no servant was ever likely to be seen again.”