Silver Ghost

August 5, 1988
Another appearance by Sarah Kelling Bittersohn and her husband Max will please their many fans. This time they are out to find a missing 1927 New Phantom Rolls Royce, part of Nehemiah (Bill) Billingsgate's collection of antique cars housed on his baroque estate on the Massachusetts shore. The investigation begins at the Billingsgates's annual Renaissance Revel, featuring costumed revellers and appropriate food (frumenty and mock peacock), drink (mead) and entertainment (Morris dancers). Then old family retainer Rufus, set to the task of guarding the collection, is found hanged, and another Rolls, a Silver Ghost, is missing. While trying to patronize Max, the local police chief makes a hash of the investigation, but Sarah and Max forge ahead. Then a second body is found, that of Vercingetorix Ufford, a medieval and renaissance specialist who also serves as a consultant to Billinsgate's chain of radio stations. It appears that he's been soaked in honey and stung to death by the Billingsgates's bees (they make and sell mead as a hobby). A roster of prime suspects must be pursued and a good many complications unraveled before the villain is found. As usual, MacLeod (The Recycled Citizen) can be counted on for a witty, literate and charming mystery.