Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy — Freeman Wills Crofts

The lonely old house in Starvel Hollow stands as usual one evening. The next morning it is a heap of smouldering ruins. When the almost cremated remains of its three inmates are discovered an inquest is held and a verdict of accidental death arrived at. However, some weeks later an incident occurs which arouses suspicion in a bank manager and Inspector French is called in.