The Last Round at The Lion & Compass

Daily case of July 18, 2026

Daily case of July 18, 2026

The Last Round at The Lion & Compass

Gaslit intrigue and gilt-edged betrayal in a private hotel suite, where railway fortunes are decided over port and cigars.

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The victim

Sir Reginald Vane — Railway magnate who unified three regional lines, hosting his annual shareholders' dinner to finalize a national consolidation scheme.

The suspects

Mr. Alistair Vane

Ambitious Nephew — Nephew and heir apparent

Mr. Charles Finch

Confidential Secretary — Sir Reginald's private secretary for 12 years

Professor Edmund Hartley

Brilliant but Overlooked Engineer — Designer of the Vane-Hartley locomotive coupling

Major Archibald Caldwell

Cautious Major Investor — Largest minority shareholder

Mr. Henri Beaumont

Impeccable Hotel Manager — Manager of The Britannia Hotel

The culprit, the alibis and the clue logic are locked before your first chapter. The narrator does not know the solution: it can neither leak it nor rewrite it when you close in.

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