Taking a page from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in a brief period of time British author Tom Mead has not so quietly become master of the locked-room mystery. Instead of Holmes and Lestrade, we have former magician Joseph Spector and Scotland Yard Detective George Flint working the cases. THE HOUSE AT DEVIL’S NECK is indeed something special and destined to be a future classic of the genre.

The Dramatis Personae listed at the front of the book comes in incredibly handy, not just for keeping all the names straight but also for armchair sleuths to work with when trying to sniff out the murderer, as well as those who are not who they claim to be. What makes this new mystery so intriguing is that there are dual cases of locked-room situations --- one that Flint is investigating and the other taking place on Devil’s Neck at the manor where Spector and a small group are visiting.

"THE HOUSE AT DEVIL’S NECK is another triumph for Tom Mead and this series, which is one of the cleverest in the mystery genre today."

Flint is called to what appears to be a suicide by pistol. If it was a murder, there was no obvious way in or out of the room. All Flint is sure of is that the man, whose identity is unknown, was linked to the infamous mystery of the Aitken Inheritance. It began with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Among the countless victims was a first-class passenger, the wealthy Donald Edgecomb, whose inheritance would fall to his 22-year-old son, Rodney. Rodney’s own story was the stuff of legend, and a tad confounding. I will leave it to readers to suss that out for themselves.

Of course, Spector’s own adventure eventually will cross paths with the mystery Flint is working on in the brilliant and indomitable fashion we have come to expect from Mead. He finds himself on a coach with a group of random people, some of whom are known to him while others are complete strangers: reporter Imogen Drabble; Francis Tulp, a young believer in the spirit world; renowned spiritualist Madame Adaline La Motte; Virginia Bailey, an elderly mother; private detective Walter Judd; and their driver, Fred Powell. Their destination is the allegedly haunted house on Devil’s Neck, which was once a hospital and now is the residence of Clive and Justine Lennox.

Spector knows the history of the house very well, as do some of the others. The intention is not just to investigate the alleged hauntings at Devil’s Neck, but also to participate in a séance conducted by Madame La Motte. The spirit of Virginia’s deceased son, Maurice, might be contacted. As a former magician, Spector is not exactly a non-believer in spiritual matters but is well-versed in the methods used by charlatans --- in much the same way that Houdini fought against fakers, while his colleague, Conan Doyle, was a famous believer.

There is so much to savor within this twisty narrative, and equally as much that I do not wish to spoil. The séance does indeed occur and produces the expected effects with the contacting of Maurice, among others. Shortly after the séance, someone shockingly turns up dead. What makes matters even more perplexing is that the doorknobs of each guest room are tied together in a pattern with a camera facing their hallway. This ensures that no one enters any room, and the only way through the window would involve a very athletic and risky climb from the lower story where only the driver stayed.

There will be more murders at Devil’s Neck before the arrival of Flint and his officers. During this time, Spector takes charge and in typically brilliant fashion unwraps this extraordinarily complex tale of deceit and murder.

While Spector goes about the lengthy denouement, which reveals all, each clue he raises is listed on the previous page in the text where it was initially introduced. Just brilliant! THE HOUSE AT DEVIL’S NECK is another triumph for Tom Mead and this series, which is one of the cleverest in the mystery genre today.