By foul means

In Short

This mystery novel follows the atmospheric, suspenseful return of Hermione Rodenberg to her ancestral home, Ardenmore, where she believes her long-lost first husband, presumed dead since the war, may still be alive. What begins as an investigation into local smuggling leads to a high-stakes search for a man marked by a past crime. Balancing romantic longing with the cold logic of the law, the narrative captures the tension of the late 1920s, offering a brisk, character-driven puzzle that explores the moral gray areas between justice and personal loyalty.

The Story

Hermione Rodenberg, the wealthiest and unhappiest woman in England, travels to the desolate Scottish estate of Ardenmore. She is accompanied by her companion, Iza Marsh, and supported by Frank Daneham, an artist who has been in love with her for years. Hermione is haunted by the hope that her first husband, Dominic Arden, did not die in the war as reported. This hope is ignited when a scrap of paper is found near an old, ruined tower on the property, bearing the exact date of Dominic’s alleged death.

While locals dismiss rumors of smuggling, Hermione and her inner circle soon realize the tower is being used as a signal station for contraband. They are joined by Colonel Richard Bessington, a man who claims to be helping the police but harbors his own motives. Bessington is determined to hunt down Dominic, who is wanted for the murder of a superior officer. As the group navigates the treacherous, fog-drenched cliffs, they uncover a connection between the smuggling operation and a charismatic Frenchman named Antoine Dubosc. Dubosc, who has been assisting Dominic in secret, proves to be a cunning adversary who plays the law against those who seek to enforce it.

The investigation leads the characters across the sea to a modern French chateau. Here, the final confrontation occurs. Dominic, no longer the man who fled a decade ago, emerges from the shadows to face his fate. He does not deny the killing of his officer, acknowledging his actions with a chilling, calm dignity. The resolution is not found in a courtroom, but in the shifting loyalties of those involved. Bessington, faced with the reality of the situation and his own complicated feelings for Hermione, ultimately abandons his pursuit, choosing a self-imposed exile rather than delivering the man he was tasked to catch to the gallows. The smuggling ring is dismantled by its own architect, and the final scene finds the characters reaching a fragile, uneasy peace, leaving the question of justice to the reader’s own conscience.

How It Unfolds

The arrival at Ardenmore Hermione returns to her gloomy, ivy-clad estate, hoping to uncover secrets that have been hidden for nine years. She is immediately unsettled by local reports of mysterious lights and the discovery of a cryptic note at the base of the tower.

The smugglers’ signal Frank Daneham and Iza Marsh begin to track the activities of a supposed smuggling gang, leading them into a dangerous night encounter. Frank is drugged during his investigation, confirming that someone is actively protecting the tower’s secrets.

Enter the Colonel Colonel Bessington arrives to assist in the investigation, masking his true intentions behind a veneer of official duty. He uses the promise of police cooperation to gain access to Hermione’s confidence and the inner workings of the mystery.

The pursuit begins The characters deduce that the signals from the tower are intended to summon someone from France. They resolve to follow the trail, leading to an expedition that spans the channel to confront the elusive Antoine Dubosc.

The final reckoning The confrontation at the French chateau reveals the fate of Dominic Arden and his involvement with the smuggling ring. Bessington, realizing that his desire for justice serves no greater good, steps aside, allowing the past to remain in the shadows.

The People

Hermione Rodenberg is the story's emotional core. She is driven by a desperate, lingering love for a man the world considers dead. Her journey is defined by the transformation from a passive victim of circumstance into a woman willing to risk everything to protect that love.

Dominic Arden appears as a man of few words and profound, weary gravity. He is the catalyst for the entire plot, a fugitive who has built a life in the margins of society. He remains resolute, refusing to apologize for his violent past, which creates a sharp contrast with the other characters’ moral uncertainty.

Colonel Richard Bessington is the antagonist who believes his ends justify his means. He is sophisticated, saturnine, and dangerous because he views people as pawns in a grand game. His decision to abandon the chase marks the most significant shift in his character, revealing a hidden exhaustion with his own rigidity.

Antoine Dubosc acts as the story’s rogue energy. He is a criminal who embraces his role with a laugh, serving as a foil to the earnestness of the English characters. He is clever, opportunistic, and fiercely protective of his own liberty, providing the narrative with its most vibrant and unpredictable moments.

In Its Own Voice

"The sea, you know, is only half a mile away from Ardenmore, and in the old days I believe lots of odd things happened connected with Ardenmore Tower, that funny old ruin I told you about that stands facing the sea, and--and--which holds a secret that only Dominic knew of and which one day he said he would tell me."

Hermione explains to Iza why the tower feels like the center of the mystery.

"The young master, he knew it and tould his friend. I'm thinking it bides here somewhere in a cave in the rocks."

A local worker provides a cryptic clue regarding the whereabouts of the hidden motor-boat.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the tension between legalistic justice and the moral weight of the past. It asks whether a man can truly be redeemed for a violent act committed under the duress of wartime, or if the law must always demand its pound of flesh. The story also examines the nature of obsession—how the desire to hold onto a lost love or a lost ideal can lead individuals into a "foul" web of their own making. It suggests that the truth is often less important than the stories we choose to believe about those we love, and that sometimes, the only way to escape the past is to walk away from the systems that insist on keeping it alive.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the slow-burn, atmospheric mysteries of the 1920s will find much to admire here. The prose is period-specific, possessing a refined, clipped cadence that perfectly suits the moody Scottish setting and the clipped, upper-class dialogue of the era. It is not a fast-paced thriller in the modern sense; rather, it is a deliberate, character-focused study of guilt and longing that rewards patience.

You should be prepared for the period attitudes; the characters speak with the formal, slightly rigid manners of the British landed gentry, and some of the dialogue carries the casual prejudices typical of 1929. The Scottish dialect of the minor characters adds color but requires some attention from the reader. The book excels in creating a sense of place—the damp, green-grey stone of the tower, the dark pine forests, and the sudden, bracing contrast of the French coast. It is a story that lingers because it refuses to provide a clean, moralistic ending. Instead, it leaves the reader with the lingering, haunting image of a man and a woman who have finally found each other, even if they have to live in the shadow of a crime that can never be undone. For those who appreciate mysteries where the investigators are just as flawed as the criminals, this is a rewarding discovery.