Theodora Thistleton was not at all popular.  Gaunt, rich and embittered, she bullied her secretaries, used her wealth to cause trouble in her family, was rude, sarcastic and ‘in one of her really nasty moods would even go so far as to use bad language.’  Passionately addicted to showjumping, and equally passionately determined to win, she made enemies all around her.  ‘I’m sure there are dozens of people queuing up to murder her,’ said one rider.  And someone did, in spectacular fashion, at a local horse show. The county police have their hands full with an arsonist; it’s time to call in the Yard.  It’s lucky that D.C.I. Flecker’s sergeant is such a fan of showjumping.
Originally published in 1963.