A Minor Operation

The story centers around the baffling disappearance of a young woman named Hazel Deerhurst. She vanishes from her home the very night after her good-for-nothing husband is released from prison. The crime scene is filled with bizarre, contradictory clues that puzzle investigators: A large bloodstain is found on the drawing-room parquet floor. Hazel apparently vanished while wearing slippers over walking shoes, two pairs of stockings, and a bright silk kimono. Searches of her home uncover a mysterious machine, cryptic paintings, and a coded telegram. Investigators discover she served as a secretary to a high-profile man whose secrets directly impact the future of the British Empire.
Chief Constable Sir Clinton Driffield must untangle these elements to figure out whether Hazel is an innocent victim or a clever villainess.