“You’ll never do it, Sep!” That was what Sandy Stacey told his partner Dr. Septimus Dodds when the latter announced that he was giving up detective work for a time in order to help out an old friend by looking after his practice. But Dodds did do it, although things were to take a decidedly peculiar turn before many days had passed.

Dodds is pitchforked into a murder case almost as soon as he has taken over his friend’s practice. That is only the beginning. Before the mystery is finally solved he finds himself entangled in a bewildering web of suspicion and violence. Indeed, two more murders are to be committed and many strange situations faced before the shadowy assassin finds that for him—or should it be her?—the third time is decidedly unlucky.

Doctor Dodds’ Experiment again teams up Detective-Inspector Verity and the volatile Dodds, much to Verity’s disgust and annoyance. But no one else need worry. The plot offers the familiar blend of suspicion, atmosphere and misdirection which has already made the name of Sutherland Scott a real “must” for mystery fiction fans.

As always, the fascinating world of medicine is fully explored. Dodds is never so happy as when combining medicine and murder.

 

First published: 1956