The Lucky Policeman

The story begins at a secluded private English country asylum in the New Forest, managed by an American psychiatrist. When a patient named Simon Selby mysteriously escapes from his secure quarters, a bizarre and gruesome wave of violence breaks out in the surrounding area. Townspeople are found murdered by a mysterious spike driven into the lower brain—and oddly, every single victim is missing their left shoe.

While the evidence heavily implies a madman is on the loose, Inspector Beale suspect things are not as they seem on the surface. He must sift through elaborate red herrings, complex timelines, and intricate word puzzles to reveal the true culprit.