Edgar Wallace, el prolífico autor inglés de novela policíaca, plantea en esta novela el negativo de Los cuatro hombres justos: la organización secreta conocida como «el Círculo Carmesí» ha sido cread
El detective Arnold Long, El Apostador, fiel a su pasión por el juego, apuesta una vez más: en tres meses detendrá a Clay Shelton, un falsificador que trae de cabeza a la policía. Long gana de nuevo, pero cuando van a ejecutar a Shelton, que durante su detención ha matado a un agente, el falsificador le dice al protagonista que la Mano del Patíbulo le vengará. Long ignora la amenaza de Shelton, pero poco a poco empiezan a morir todas las personas relacionadas con su condena…
Marjorie conoce al misterioso Pretoria Smith y presencia su muerte, a manos de éste, de lord James Tynewood. Poco después la joven recibe un ultimátum: si no se casa con el socio de su tío, éste dejara de mandarles dinero a ella y a su madre. Cuando la joven descubre que el enigmatico socio es Pretoria Smith, y que no le queda mas remedio que casarse con el porque su madre esta endeudada, el panico se apodera de ella: debe contraer matrimonio con un sospechoso de asesinato, con un hombre de cuyo nombre e identidad duda... Marjorie debera afinar sus dotes detectivescas si en algo valora su felicidad.
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals. Edgar Wallace was born in Yarmouth, Greenwich, Norfolk. His biological parents were actors Richard Horatio Edgar (who never knew of his existence) and Mary Jane "Polly" Richards, nee Blair. Known as Richard Freeman, Edgar had a happy childhood, forming an especially close bond with 20-year-old Clara Freeman who became like a second mother to him. His foster-father George Freeman was an honourable and kind man and determined to ensure Richard received a good education. He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong," writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, The Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime. His other works include: The Angel of Terror (1922), The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1916), and The Daffodil Mystery (1920).
'Taking the little paper from the pigeon's leg, Hamilton saw it was from Sanders and marked URGENT. Send Bones instantly to Lujamalababa... Arrest and bring to head-quarters the witch doctor.' It is a time when the world's most powerful nations are vying for colonial honour, a time of trading steamers and tribal chiefs. In the mysterious African territories administered by Commissioner Sanders, Bones persistently manages to create his own unique style of innocent and endearing mischief.
