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Michael, a lawyer by trade, decides to surprise his friend John with an unannounced visit. John lost his wife two years ago, and the funeral was the last time the two friends had visited. It turns out to be a good day to visit as John’s two sons have also come for a visit, and the four decide to have dinner together. John asks his staff to prepare something for their evening meal. However, things quickly unravel. After calling for a toast and finishing his glass of whiskey, John drops his glass and falls to the floor, dead. Everyone is shocked. The police and family doctor soon arrive. It becomes clear that John has been poisoned, and Michael, the sons, and the house staff are all possible suspects. Could the butler have done it?
Millan is clearly aware of the standard fare of mysteries, particularly those influenced stylistically by Agatha Christie. He quickly sets the murder scene and introduces the cast of suspects. His main protagonist, the person responsible for solving the murder, is not a detective but a friend and lawyer. Millan recognizes the importance of red herrings in the genre and adeptly supplies a few to keep the audience guessing. The narrative has some grammatical issues, and the protagonist’s ability to pull clues and evidence seemingly out of the ether hamper the plot somewhat. Still, fans of short mysteries, especially those looking for something to be read in a single sitting, say a train ride to work, may find this title a delightful distraction for their journey.