"How's it going, George?" "Sheer murder." When Ludovic Travers went to Sandbeach-"the Blackpool of the South Coast"-his purpose was to investigate on behalf of an insurance company a jewel robbery at one of that lively resort's leading hotels. The victim of the robbery was Mona Dovell, the flighty wife of an elderly and highly respected magistrate. Ludovic was not long on the job before he discovered that Mona was heavily involved with a bookmaker of dubious reputation, and that her relations with certain members of the local C.I.D. were unconventional to say the least of it. After that, even the robbery itself began to smell fishy, and Ludovic started to wonder if there was not also a strong whiff of corruption in the air. The Case of the Careless Thief was originally published in 1959. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "One can only wonder how he keeps up the standard . . . as ingenious and full of meat as ever." Guardian "In crime writing it's not true that a good wine needs no Bush. The Case of the Careless Thief is another dry sherry by Christopher Bush, one of the best story-tellers in the world.' Western Mail 'Ingenious and energetic double-murder set in a garish south coast resort. Ludovic Travers, a polished private eye, investigates a jewel-theft insurance-swindle and uncovers the nastiest bunch of seaside characters since Graham Greene visited Brighton.' Sydney Morning Hera