The Trail of the Three Lean Men — Christopher Bush

Seeing Munro Burnside was a last resource.

The young narrator of this mystery thriller is stony broke. In dire straits he appeals to his former boss, now a top men at a London newspaper, for a writing job. Mr. Burnside suggests he go out and find himself a really piquant subject for a series of articles, one in which he can involve himself personally if possible. It is not long before the would-be scribe spots three lean men and, smelling a good story, follows the curious trio into an adventure far beyond the world of journalism. The narrator's incredible journey takes him to a sinister middle-European nation, up to his ears in diabolical international intrigue, and embroiled in a plot of implacable revenge and pre-meditated murder.

In 1932 Christopher Bush took a short break from his 'Ludovic Travers' mystery series to write this one-off thriller, the style and milieu of which will be familiar to readers of Buchan, Ambler and Cheyney. Originally published under the name of 'Noel Barclay', it has remained Bush's rarest book until now. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Tony Medawar.