Murder Too Late — John Creasey

A string of jewel heists cause chaos in the English countryside for an amateur sleuth in this classic murder mystery by the author of the Department Z series.

Major Patrick Dawlish and his wife, Felicity, have traded London for a large country house in Surrey to enjoy some quiet -- and fruit farming. However, that won't stop Superintendent Trivett of Scotland Yard from asking Dawlish for help with his latest case . . .

A gang of jewel thieves has both the Yard and the Home Office nervous. Trivett's only lead is one of Dawlish's neighbors. Sir Brian Alderney and his wife are popular pillars of the community, but the source of their wealth is uncertain. All Dawlish needs to do is get to know his neighbors and keep an eye on them.

But after one wild night, things take a gruesome turn. Suddenly Dawlish has bigger questions to answer like who is the dead man hanging from his window? And who put him there?