The Crooked Cross

The Crooked Cross is a mystery novel written by Charles J. Dutton and first published in 1926. The plot follows the murder of Professor Henry Warren, a scientist recently returned from China, as his friends, including Bartley and his confidante Pelt, become embroiled in the investigation. With Inspector Ranville from Scotland Yard involved, the story unfolds in a lakeside village where the characters must navigate a web of motives and suspects, including a mysterious Chinaman and Warren's secretary, to uncover the truth behind the murder marked by a crooked cross on the victim's forehead.