Heir to Murder

Heir to Murder, first published in 1953, is book no. 46 in the series of British mysteries featuring amateur sleuth Desmond Merrion and his friend Inspector Henry Arnold by Miles Burton (a pen-name for prolific author Cecil Street [1884-1964]). The story centers on the seaside resort town of Carmouth, where Desmond Merrion is on holiday with his ailing wife. Merrion soon finds himself investigating several suspicious accidents that befall the heirs of the wealthy Lady Violet Ventham, beginning with the death of a local doctor who drives his car into the harbor and is drowned. Following the second death – a nurse falling from a clifftop path – Merrion is joined by Inspector Arnold of Scotland Yard.