Murder by Matchlight

During a stroll through Regent's Park, Bruce Mallaig witnesses a murder, and C.I.D. man MacDonald must unravel the mystery of the murderer's noiseless approach and escape, even the victim's identity is uncertain.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2018
Publisher: British Library Publishing

London, 1945. The capital is enveloped in the eerie darkness of the blackout, and a mysterious aura permeates the parks after dusk. While taking a leisurely stroll through Regent's Park, Bruce Mallaig catches sight of two individuals exhibiting peculiar behavior near a footbridge. In a swift sequence of events, one of them meets a tragic end, leaving Mallaig with a fleeting glimpse of a ghastly face illuminated by a struck match. The murderer's uncanny stealth and swift getaway defy logical explanation, casting doubt on the victim's identity even as the C.I.D. officer MacDonald embarks on a mission to unravel this seemingly insurmountable mystery.

The scene unfolds in the heart of London, amidst the backdrop of World War II. The city is gripped by fear and uncertainty, with the blackout regulations in place to minimize the risk of enemy aircraft sightings. The parks, once bustling with activity, now stand eerily silent, their paths deserted except for the occasional passerby.

As Bruce Mallaig strolls through Regent's Park, he notices two men who seem to be acting suspiciously. They are huddled together near the footbridge, their movements tense and cautious. Mallaig's attention is drawn to them as they engage in a whispered conversation, their faces obscured by the darkness.

Suddenly, one of the men lunges forward, his hand reaching for something concealed beneath his coat. Before Mallaig can react, a loud gunshot rings out, and the man collapses to the ground. The other man, startled by the sudden noise, flees in a panic, disappearing into the night.

Mallaig stands frozen in shock, his mind racing with questions. Who was the victim? Why was he targeted? And who was the mysterious assailant who managed to evade capture?

The C.I.D. officer MacDonald is called in to investigate the murder. He arrives at the scene of the crime, taking in the surrounding details. The footbridge is dimly lit by the moonlight, casting eerie shadows over the nearby trees. Mallaig points out the location of the men, but MacDonald is skeptical, considering the lack of witnesses and the ambiguous nature of the evidence.

As MacDonald begins his investigation, he realizes that this case is unlike any he has encountered before. The murderer's approach was silent and noiseless, leaving no trace of evidence behind. The victim's identity is also uncertain, as there were no witnesses to the crime and no clear indications of who he was.

To unravel the mystery, MacDonald enlists the help of his team of C.I.D. officers. They conduct a thorough search of the park, examining every inch of the footbridge and surrounding areas. They interview potential witnesses, but none of them have seen anything suspicious.

As the investigation progresses, MacDonald begins to piece together the clues. He notices that the victim was wearing a distinctive watch, which could provide a clue to his identity. He also discovers that the victim had been involved in a shady business deal, which could have led to his murder.

With each passing day, the stakes rise higher. The murderer seems to be one step ahead of the C.I.D. team, and MacDonald is determined to catch him before he strikes again. He spends countless hours poring over the evidence, analyzing every detail, and trying to connect the dots.

Finally, after weeks of tireless investigation, MacDonald and his team have a breakthrough. They identify the victim as a wealthy businessman named John Smith, who had been involved in a shady deal with a rival company. The rival company had been trying to sabotage Smith's business, and they had hired a hitman to eliminate him.

The C.I.D. team tracks down the hitman, a man named James Harper, and they bring him to justice. Harper confesses to the murder, revealing that he was paid to kill Smith by the rival company. He had been following Smith for weeks, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

The case is closed, and John Smith's family receives closure. MacDonald and his team are hailed as heroes, and the city breathes a sigh of relief. But the murder of John Smith has left a lasting impact on the C.I.D. officer MacDonald. He is haunted by the memory of the victim's face, and he knows that there are still many mysteries waiting to be solved in the dark corners of London.

In conclusion, "The Blackout Murders" is a thrilling mystery that takes place in the heart of London during the darkest days of World War II. The story follows Bruce Mallaig, a C.I.D. officer, as he investigates the murder of a man near a footbridge in Regent's Park. The murderer's noiseless approach and swift escape defy logical explanation, casting doubt on the victim's identity even as the C.I.D. officer MacDonald embarks on a mission to unravel this seemingly insurmountable mystery.

The capital is enveloped in the eerie darkness of the blackout, and a mysterious aura permeates the parks after dusk. While taking a leisurely stroll through Regent's Park, Bruce Mallaig catches sight of two individuals exhibiting peculiar behavior near a footbridge. In a swift sequence of events, one of them meets a tragic end, leaving Mallaig with a fleeting glimpse of a ghastly face illuminated by a struck match. The murderer's uncanny stealth and swift getaway defy logical explanation, casting doubt on the victim's identity even as the C.I.D. officer MacDonald embarks on a mission to unravel this seemingly insurmountable mystery.

The scene unfolds in the heart of London, amidst the backdrop of World War II. The city is gripped by fear and uncertainty, with the blackout regulations in place to minimize the risk of enemy aircraft sightings. The parks, once bustling with activity, now stand eerily silent, their paths deserted except for the occasional passerby.

As Bruce Mallaig strolls through Regent's Park, he notices two men who seem to be acting suspiciously. They are huddled together near the footbridge, their movements tense and cautious. Mallaig's attention is drawn to them as they engage in a whispered conversation, their faces obscured by the darkness.

Suddenly, one of the men lunges forward, his hand reaching for something concealed beneath his coat. Before Mallaig can react, a loud gunshot rings out, and the man collapses to the ground. The other man, startled by the sudden noise, flees in a panic, disappearing into the night.

Mallaig stands frozen in shock, his mind racing with questions. Who was the victim? Why was he targeted? And who was the mysterious assailant who managed to evade capture?

The C.I.D. officer MacDonald is called in to investigate the murder. He arrives at the scene of the crime, taking in the surrounding details. The footbridge is dimly lit by the moonlight, casting eerie shadows over the nearby trees. Mallaig points out the location of the men, but MacDonald is skeptical, considering the lack of witnesses and the ambiguous nature of the evidence.

As MacDonald begins his investigation, he realizes that this case is unlike any he has encountered before. The murderer's approach was silent and noiseless, leaving no trace of evidence behind. The victim's identity is also uncertain, as there were no witnesses to the crime and no clear indications of who he was.

To unravel the mystery, MacDonald enlists the help of his team of C.I.D. officers. They conduct a thorough search of the park, examining every inch of the footbridge and surrounding areas. They interview potential witnesses, but none of them have seen anything suspicious.

As the investigation progresses, MacDonald begins to piece together the clues. He notices that the victim was wearing a distinctive watch, which could provide a clue to his identity. He also discovers that the victim had been involved in a shady business deal, which could have led to his murder.

With each passing day, the stakes rise higher. The murderer seems to be one step ahead of the C.I.D. team, and MacDonald is determined to catch him before he strikes again. He spends countless hours poring over the evidence, analyzing every detail, and trying to connect the dots.

Finally, after weeks of tireless investigation, MacDonald and his team have a breakthrough. They identify the victim as a wealthy businessman named John Smith, who had been involved in a shady deal with a rival company. The rival company had been trying to sabotage Smith's business, and they had hired a hitman to eliminate him.

The C.I.D. team tracks down the hitman, a man named James Harper, and they bring him to justice. Harper confesses to the murder, revealing that he was paid to kill Smith by the rival company. He had been following Smith for weeks, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

The case is closed, and John Smith's family receives closure. MacDonald and his team are hailed as heroes, and the city breathes a sigh of relief. But the murder of John Smith has left a lasting impact on the C.I.D. officer MacDonald. He is haunted by the memory of the victim's face, and he knows that there are still many mysteries waiting to be solved in the dark corners of London.

Weight: 238g
Dimension: 185 x 130 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780712352222