Inspector Hanaud Series by A.E.W. Mason

In this thriller by A.E.W. Mason, Inspector Hanaud goes to the Villa Rose, where a wealthy widow has been cruelly murdered for her jewels. At the Villa Rose is Mason and his cunning detective 'Hanaud' at their best. Missing jewels; high adventure some one hundred and fifty kilometres from Geneva; a casino and blind love are all factors in a difficult case for Hanaud, which ultimately involves a gang of frightened murderers.

"A young, wealthy vagabond English man, Calladine, whom Ricardo knew before, hastily comes to Ricardo's London home in the morning, while Hanaud happens to be visiting. Calladine, very agitated, still dressed formally as for an evening ball, tells his disturbing story-- He had gone to a costume party that night in a hotel ballroom, met a beautiful young woman, Joan Carew, with whom he danced, dined, and talked.. more"A young, wealthy vagabond English man, Calladine, whom Ricardo knew before, hastily comes to Ricardo's London home in the morning, while Hanaud happens to be visiting. Calladine, very agitated, still dressed formally as for an evening ball, tells his disturbing story-- He had gone to a costume party that night in a hotel ballroom, met a beautiful young woman, Joan Carew, with whom he danced, dined, and talked..." Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (7 May 1865 Dulwich, London - 22 November 1948 London) was an English author and politician. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers and is also known as the creator of Inspector Hanaud, a French detective who was an early template for Agatha Christie's famous Hercule Poirot. less

The scene is the south of France. An English lady has been murdered and a beautiful American girl has disappeared. Discovered is a body with a severed hand and an opal bracelet somehow connected to devil worship. Clearly a case for Inspector Hanaud or the Surete and his English friend Mr. Ricardo. Can Hanaud solve the two mysteries in time to prevent a second murder? Readers will be kept in a constant state of mystification until the surprising denouement.