The skeleton key

"The Skeleton Key" by Bernard Capes is a mystery where an odd Frenchman, M. le Baron, mixes into the life of Mr. Bickerdike during strange meetings in Paris and at an estate called Wildshott. The story has suspense, touches of crime, and tricky relationships between people. It begins with Bickerdike in Paris waiting for his friend, Hugo Kennett. He then meets M. le Baron, a fun but secretive man, who chats with him while hinting at mystery. Later, the Baron and Bickerdike meet the Kennett family at Wildshott, where a maid's murder breaks the peace. These opening moments not only show the main characters and their connections but also create feelings of coming danger and mystery. The main characters must solve a difficult puzzle involving crime, secret reasons, and the truth.