The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries

When Harold Carteret's body is found in an open drain after a treasure hunt party thrown by his ex-wife, it transpires that he had quarrelled with just about everyone in the sleepy village of Chalfont Green.

A local spring on the Scottish island of Portacarrick is believed to have healing powers. Miss Emily Pride inherits the spring and surrounding land and wants to stop the exploitation of desperate people. Miss Emily receives anonymous threats, apparently from locals who are upset by her proposal. After Miss Emily is physically attacked, Alleyn arrives but soon the situation escalates to murder.

The proposed publication of Colonel Carterette's memoirs seem to have led to two violent deaths. Were the murders to stop details of an old scandal from being made public, or perhaps it had something to do with the dispute about fishing rights?