Yay for book recs! I think that's the one I went looking for after you suggested it, only to discover it was called something else here. And then discovered that the damn things are bloody hard to find in any case, which is ridiculous. Anyway, I shall track it down and doubtless wibble like a wee girlie, while fruitlessly wishing to pet the silly lovely chap.

As for "Dancers In Mourning", I totally second that recommendation for all the reasons already mentioned above.

Just in case you're interested in aquiring a copy of it as soon as possible and without too much fuss...My boyfriend has a spare one he is willing to donate/sell at a reasonably low price which just covers shipping expenses.

(being the lovely , but slightly messy person that he is, he got his very own copy of Dancers in Mourning, just because he didn't want to ruin my shiny 1989 penguin edition with PD on the cover, but then found out that Allingham's writing style wasn't his cup of tea)

I could mail you the book within the next couple days if you like :-)