Лесли Чартерис: Prelude for War

When the Saint and Patricia spot a country house on fire they rush to help, but are too late to rescue one man trapped inside. The dead man s door was locked, and Simon concludes there s a murder to be answered for, despite the coroner ruling otherwise. He launches his own investigation — getting engaged along the way — and soon gets caught up with generals, financiers, and an assassination plot designed to start a war.