Death at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book

An advertisement promotes a murder mystery weekend in Yorkshire. The event is at Rook Hall, a hotel within Burton Makepeace House, owned by Lord and Lady Milton.

The Red Herrings Theatre Company begins its performance in Rook Hall’s library. The characters, including Sir Lancelot Hardwick, Major Liversedge, the Reverend Smallbones, and Swiss detective René Armand, are trapped in a country house during a snowstorm. Lady Milton is confused by the performance, complaining of too many characters. However, Reggie Chase assures her that several will soon be killed off. Jackson Brodie reflects he may be tempted to kill them himself.

A week earlier, private detective Jackson Brodie met Ian and Hazel Padgett at the home of their late mother Dorothy. The Padgett twins revealed that 96-year-old Dorothy died of natural causes, but a Renaissance painting disappeared from her bedroom on the day she died. They suspect their mother’s live-in-carer, Melanie Hope, who disappeared at the same time. 

The Padgetts claim that the painting was uninsured and the artist unknown. A photograph of the picture shows a beautiful young woman with a weasel on her lap. Hazel states that their father likely bought the portrait from an auction at Ottershall House in September 1945.