Zen there was Murder

In a country mansion converted to adult educational courses, Mr Utamaro is lecturing on Zen Buddhism to a small and not entirely appreciative audience. But Zen questions and their seemingly quirkish answers predominate, until they are superseded by two of greater urgency: ''Who stole the wakizashi?'' and ''Who killed Flaveen Mills?''

H. R. F. Keating provides the solution in the same brilliantly h...