The Case of the Locked Rose-Garden

A head gardener is found dead in his locked rose-garden at dawn. His medical bag is open. A vial is missing. The garden gate is bolted from inside.

Section I

The Scene

Victorian newspaper-style illustration for The Case of the Locked Rose-Garden, set at The walled rose-garden at Marlow Hall, Berkshire.

Hand-drawn case map for The Case of the Locked Rose-Garden, showing The walled rose-garden at Marlow Hall, Berkshire. — The ground in question.

Setting: The walled rose-garden at Marlow Hall, Berkshire
Time: Thursday morning, third week of July 1894
Weather: A heavy summer dawn lifting; the dew not yet off the grass
Atmosphere: Walls of warm brick crowned with broken glass; rows of dark-red and pale-pink roses; the iron gate cool to the touch and bolted from within.

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