Dead man’s folly. Agatha Christie. 1957. (Book Club edition)

Whilst organising a mock murder hunt for the village fete hosted by Sir George and Lady Stubbs, a feeling of dread settles on the famous crime novelist Ariadne Oliver. Call it instinct, but it’s a feeling she just can’t explain....or get away from.

In desperation she summons her old friend, Hercule Poirot - and her instincts are soon proved correct when the ‘pretend’ murder victim is discovered playing the scene for real, a rope wrapped tightly around her neck......

But it’s the great detective who first discovers that in murder hunts, whether mock or real, everyone is playing a part......