Anthony Gethryn, a retired secret service colonel, is commissioned by the weekly newspaper to report on the murder of cabinet minister John Hoode. As he arrives in Abbotshall, the iron-clad alibis of everyone involved suggest that finding the murderer won't be an easy task. Aided by his ingenuity, a couple of friends, and a bit of luck, Anthony will have to uncover the culprit-and perhaps something else that he's missing.

The Rasp is a classic detective novel with a closed circle of suspects. Skillfully misdirecting the reader on multiple occasions, Philip MacDonald keeps the reader guessing.