The Fatal Five Minutes

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Shortly after 6:50 PM, Wellington Burnet, a wealthy English businessman, is in his study in the large country house of Midwood, alive. Shortly after 6:55, his body is found lifeless in that same study. During those fatal five minutes, none of the people present at Midwood could have entered that room, committed the crime, and exited without being seen. Yet someone did. The suspects are numerous. There is Alison, Burnet's young and beautiful wife, and there is lawyer Cossor, known for his passion for her. There is Elford, the butler hired without any references, and Denley, the personal secretary whose behavior reveals excessive intimacy with the family. There is Gillespie, the young nephew, and finally, there is Annesty, the guest known only to Burnet, summoned to discuss unspecified business. The culprit must be one of them, as they were the only ones in the house during those five minutes, but all have unassailable alibis. Published in 1932, The Fatal Five Minutes has been included in the list of milestones of the mystery genre compiled by Howard Haycraft and Ellery Queen.