Corporal Smithers, Deceased

Corporal Smithers' mother (and her husband) appeared on the scene shortly after Corporal Smithers was found dead. Shot dead. Suicide, said the army, which had begun its investigation. "Damn' young fool," the Captain said. "What'd he do that for?" He sounded aggrieved. "Anybody hear him do it?" "So far as has been ascertained, we do not know as yet, sah," said Private Butterfort. "Wassat?" "We are not as yet cognizant of the circumstances, sah. One thought it advisable to appraise you before proceeding further." It was Mrs. Smithers who should have been appraised, who was certainly going to see that the truth would come out - because she knew, of course, wasn't she his mother?, that her son wouldn't have killed himself. It had to be murder. This is something new in the way of thrillers, and though the army in question is a British one, they're all basically the same - aren't they?. Book Dust Jacket