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In the summer of 1923, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple makes what should an uneventful research trip to the Museum of Natural History with her nephew Derek and her soon-to-be step-daughter Belinda in tow. But as she interviews the various curators for her article on the museums of London, she soon discovers that the Museum of Natural History is a hothouse of professional rivalry and jealousy, particularly between Dr. Smith Woodward, the Keeper of Geology - responsible for the fossil collection, and Dr. Pettigrew, the Keeper of Minerology -- responsible for the Museum's fabulous gem collection. On a later trip, as closing time nears, Daisy hears two voices followed by a tremendous crash and rushes into the next hall to discover Dr. Pettigrew dead - murdered amidst a pile of dinosaur bones. Daisy's fiance, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, is assigned to investigate and together they must unravel a most baffling case of missing gems, dispossessed European royalty, professional rivalry and murder most foul.
A seemingly routine research trip to London's Museum of Natural History turns deadly when a curator is found murdered amidst dinosaur bones. The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, accompanied by her nephew and soon-to-be step-daughter, finds herself entangled in a web of professional jealousy and rivalry among the museum's keepers. As Daisy investigates the museum's staff for an article, she uncovers simmering tensions, particularly between the Keeper of Geology and the Keeper of Minerology, over valuable gem collections. The discovery of Dr. Pettigrew's body, amidst a pile of fossils, propels Daisy and her fiancé, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, into a complex investigation involving missing gems, displaced royalty, and a killer hiding within the museum's halls.
The premise sets up a classic cozy mystery with a historical setting, focusing on amateur sleuthing within a specific, intriguing environment. The narrative likely emphasizes the unraveling of interpersonal conflicts and professional jealousies as the primary drivers of the crime, with Daisy's unique perspective as an outsider providing crucial insights. The inclusion of Scotland Yard's involvement suggests a blend of traditional detective work with Daisy's more intuitive approach. The resolution is expected to tie together the various threads of missing gems, royal connections, and academic feuds into a satisfying conclusion.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2003-01-01
ISBN-10:
0758201680
ISBN-13:
9780758201683
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