Dead Water: Times are good in the tiny village of Portcarrow, as thousands flock to taste the miraculous waters of Pixie Falls. Then Miss Emily Pride inherits Portcarrow and wants to put a stop to the villagers' thriving trade in miracle cures, especially Miss Elspeth's Cost's gift shop. But then someone puts a stop to Miss Cost!

Black As He's Painted: When the President of Ng'ombwana proposes to dispense with the usual security arrangements while on a visit to London, his old school friend Chief Superintendent Alleyn is called in to try to persuade him otherwise. He is successful and on the night of the Embassy's reception, the house and grounds are stiff with police. But an assassin strikes, an Alleyn discovers a wealth of suspects ion a coterie of ex-colonials.

Artists in Crime: It was a student exercise - the knife under the drape, the model's pose chalked in place. But before Agatha Troy, artist and instructor, returns to the class, the pose has been re-enacted in earnest. It's a difficult case for Inspector Alleyn. He's in love with Agatha Troy, but no-one can be above suspicion.