Strange Boarders of Palace Crescent

Mr Roger Ferrison has just returned to London after several years of living rough in Canada. He takes a small room in the boarding house run by Mrs Dewar. There he meets the bewitching invalid Fiona Quayne who rapidly develops a consuming passion for Ferrison.

Ferrison is struggling to sell his newly invented cleaning machine. He is helped in this by the kind and caring Miss Audrey Packe who introduces him to her successful employer, an High Street merchant. Audrey and Ferrison develop strong feelings for each other.

Meanwhile, back at the Boarding House, Colonel Dennett is murdered. Suspects include the butler, Joseph, who is found with a loaded gun; The shady lawyer Mr. P, The sporting, aloof, unconcerned Mr Luke. Two elderly sisters have key information about the killer, but the police will not pay attention to them. Several other residents at the Boarding house are implicated.

The sensational theft of a Jewelry collection, missing Indian rubies, and the lackadaisical intervention of Scotland Yard all contribute to the plot.

Oppenheim was a careful observer of human behavior. It contains a very interesting and accurate description of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Called "Neuresthenia" among other names, it figures in the invalidism of Ms. Quayne.