Counterfeit Corpse

A reformed ex-con uncovers murder in his small-town New England garden in this 1956 hard-boiled mystery by the author of Waterfront.
 
After spending time in Europe and Africa—and inside a British prison—Don Ivy is back in his New England hometown, the village of Newbury. He recently inherited the family estate, and now that winter is over and spring has sprung, it’s time for him to tidy up the yard. Unfortunately, someone’s left a corpse in one of the flower beds.
 
When the police arrive, they’re quickly suspicious of Ivy due to his troubling reputation. It also doesn’t help Don’s case when more bodies begin to appear. So, with the authorities in an uproar, he begins searching for answers to clear his name. And if Ivy doesn’t uncover the truth soon, the cops will certainly lock him up—or someone will ensure he takes a long dirt nap.