Mrs. McGinty's Dead

First published in 1952, and first issued by Fontana Books in 1955. It was issued again in 1956, 1957 and 1958. This copy is the fifth impression, issued in 1959.

Mrs. McGinty was dead. She was hit on the back of the head with some sharp, heavy implement and her pitifully small savings were taken. Her lodger was hard up and had lost his job; his coat sleeve had blood on it. In die course he was arrested and tried, found guilty and condemned to death. Yet Superintendant Spence of the Kilchester Police, who had been instrumental in bringing about James Bentley's conviction, did not believe the man was guilty - and for no tangible reason other than he did not think Bently to be the type. Rather shamefacedly he took his problem to his old friend Hercule Poirot.