The Clue of the Twisted Candle

A novelist escapes from prison and a Scotland Yard commissioner investigates the locked-room murder of an Albanian criminal in this classic mystery.

John Lexman has a knack for crafting clever plots for his crime novels. But he has no idea what to do when he finds himself caught up in the real thing—framed, convicted, and imprisoned for murdering a dangerous money lender. Luckily, Lexman’s best friend, Thomas Xavier Meredith, is the assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard and is determined to get him released from prison. But before T. X. can do so, Lexman’s enigmatic acquaintance, Remington Kara, helps him escape. Both John and his wife, Grace, disappear . . .

Two years later, T. X. has had no word from John or Grace. He has, however, kept a watchful eye on Kara, regularly checking up on him. Although the man lives the high life in London, he lives in fear of his enemies. One of the many features of his home is his impregnable bedroom, so it is certainly puzzling when Kara is found stabbed to death inside behind the locked door.

Unfortunately for T. X., more mysteries arise when he begins to investigate the murder. Like what happened to Kara’s secretary and his manservant? And why would anyone kill the dog in the basement? And what’s with the candles in the bedroom? It’s up to T. X. to find the answers and bring the killer to justice before it’s too late . . .

Originally published in 1918, The Clue of the Twisted Candle was the basis for the 1960 film

Clue of the Twisted Candle starring Bernard Lee as T. X. Meredith.