First published by Chatto & Windus 1968
This was the last book Margery Allingham wrote. It was left unfinished at the time of her death in June 1966. It was completed by her husband, and partner of almost forty years, Philip Youngman Carter at her specific request. Together they had concieved many of the plots that appeared in her writing, and the events of this novel had been decided before her death.
Twenty years ago Saltey was linked to a daring, brutal, but botched, act of piracy. And at the same time the local undertaker was found in one of his own coffins - dead.
Modern events are equally mysterious. a man killed by a silver bullet. A missing ex-prisoner. an unexpected inheritance and a spate of poison-pen letters. A wild gang of bikers, drugs and vandalism. even a ghost or two. But with the help of a love-lorn historian and a one-woman avenging army (not forgetting Lugg, taking time off from planning his retirement bungalow) Campion uncovers layers of deceit, malice and murder.
And at the bottom of it all is a cargo of eagles...