This title is part of our3 for 2 offeron British Library Fiction.

The diplomat Sir George Ramsden is returning to Britain from France with the mysterious unicorn in tow.The legendary thiefFlamandehas declared that he will be on the same flight as Ramsden,in disguise, and that the unicorn will be his. His arch-rival and head of theSretNationale, Gasquet, has assured the public that he too will be on the plane tothwart his nemesis.

Meanwhile, holidaying in Paris, the ex-spy Kenwood Blake runs into Evelyn Cheyne and is swept into aperilous chaseendingat theChateau delIleon a stormy night. Here,Ramsdens plane has made an emergency landing, and Henry Merrivale has joined the party.When the castle is cut offbytheflooding river,the stage is setfor a battle of wits between two masters of disguise inFlamandeand Gasquet, as a bizarre and seemingly impossible murderamong the partycasts suspicionin every direction and the mystery of the unicorn is revealed.

Carter Dicksons brilliantly intricate mystery was first published in Britain in 1936; itremainsa testament to his unique talent for wrangling audacious levels of devilishness into a masterpiece.

Part of the Crime Classics series.