The newly formed Ministry of Fine Arts has a staffing problem - one minister dead within six months of its inception, his successor snuffed out shortly before the General Election.
 
When a third victim, Permanent Secretary Edwin Pompfret is fatally crushed by the fall of a giant bust, Inspector Julian Rivers is drawn into a case of murder of artistic devilment.
 
"Her best yet.A classic story with well concealed and ingenious clues, sufficiently difficult to leave us properly surprised by both murderer and method."
Spectator, 1953