About the book: 1937 / One night, Alfred Meyer, director of a theater troupe, was nearly pushed off a speeding train. However, his misadventures did not stop there. At a party in honor of the birthday of his wife, actress Caroline Dacres, Meyer was killed by a blow... from a bottle of champagne. Suspicion falls on all the friends and acquaintances of the deceased. The case takes place in New Zealand, where Inspector Alleyn, a smart, intellectual, came on vacation with a touring troupe. art connoisseur. He is characterized by distrust and skepticism; under external equanimity he hides his feelings and experiences. At first, almost none of the actors have any idea about his profession. But after the incident, the inspector has to reveal his identity to his New Zealand colleagues. Alleyne begins an investigation and meets the theater actors - bright and very controversial people who never take off their masks.