A Village Afraid

A Village Afraid is a 1950 detective novel by the British writer Cecil Street, writing under the pen name of Miles Burton. It was part of a lengthy series of books featuring the detective Desmond Merrion and Inspector Arnold of Scotland Yard.

Synopsis
Five prominent members of the little village of Micheigreen gather for drinks coaching inn The Swan after a meeting of the Parish Council. The next day one of their number, wealthy businessman Norman Rother is found dead. While initial suspicion points at his dissatisfied younger wife Annette, the local police are flummoxed can call in the expertise of Merrion and Arnold.