Meadside Brewery in the town of Medthorpe, Kent, was a thriving business, but its owner, Sir Henry Harcourt had grander ambitions than making money – he had his eye on nothing less than a seat in the Houses of Parliament. But machinations worthy of the inhabitants of those hallowed halls are going on under his nose in the brewery itself.

Stanley Alton, one of the business managers, is currently receiving threatening letters about a tragedy some years past. That hasn’t stopped him from treating his coworkers in ways that make him plenty of enemies. So when Alton disappears, no one is particularly concerned – until his body turns up stuffed inside a hogshead barrel. Enter Chief Inspector Meredith.... [Synopsis from ClassicMystery.blog]