Synopsis

Clarissa is the second wife of Henry Hailsham-Brown and is adept at spinning tales of adventure for their bored diplomatic circle (she is the ‘spider’). When a murder takes place in her drawing room she finds live drama much harder to cope with, especially as it seems the murderer is her young stepdaughter, Pippa. Worse still, the victim is the man who broke up Henry’s first marriage!

Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensues when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord.

A conscious parody of the detective thriller, Christie delivers a unique blend of suspense and humour. There is tension and laughter in equal parts in an intricate plot of murder, police, drug addiction, hidden doorways and secret drawers.