On an April evening, seven minutes be-

fore the new TV studios of Bath & Wells

are about to begin transmiuing, condi-

tions in the studio are frantic. To add to

the inevitable first-night jitters, Royalty

is on the premises, the electricians are

threatening to strike, and Bath & Wells

boss, Malcolm Gordon, has just substi-

tuted his nephew Christopher for the

highly experienced Jack Kemp as director

of tonight s program. Everyone expects

calamity--but hardly on the scale that

actually occnrs: At the moment the pro-

gram goes on the air, the studio lights fail

and someone is stabbed to death.

There are a dozen possible suspects in

the blood-soaked crowd that surrounds

the victim. Plenty of opportunity, plenty

of motive, but the police appear to regard

the wrong man as their number-one sus-

pect. His shocked colleagues raise a small

fund to hire a private detective, and the

obvious choice is quiet Mr. Pringle,

whose brilliant success in The Trouble

at Aquitane many readers will recall.

And brilliantly successhd he proves to

be again.

This is a splendid show business

thriller, taking us behind the scenes for

an authentic look at life--and death--in

the limelight.