Edgar Lustgarten recalls a tale where the assailant called the police and tells them that he killed his wife and nearly got away with murder.
Frederick Stafford is a bookshop owner who also looks after his invalid wife. She died after they quarrelled and he accidentally pushed her. The doctor tells Superintendent Daker that she had a weak heart that could go out at any time.
Stafford faces a trial for manslaughter and there is a possibility that he could get off with the death being accidental.
Daker decides to probe more. Stafford looked respectable but he also seemed to be secretive. He liked going out and leave his wife alone and not let her sister look after her.
He took out a lot of money for expenses but it was not on housekeeping. Then there was his pretty assistant in the bookshop. Daker gets a female constable to go undercover and follow her.
An unpretentious story with efficient direction. There are a few clues here and there which indicates that Stafford was a man with a plan.
There are several familiar faces in small roles such as Molly Weir.