In Blacker Than Black, intellectual investigator Roderick Alleyn must uncover a brutal ritual murder committed at the embassy of a small African country in the midst of a gala reception. Alleyn has a whole team of professionals at his disposal, but his main assistant this time is the little black cat Lucy... In a small town where there are plenty of skeletons in closets, eccentric eccentrics, and old women reminiscent of Miss Marple, a murder has occurred. The victim's name is Colonel Cartarett, and he was found on the river bank next to the legendary giant trout, which all local fishermen had long dreamed of catching. But that’s not why they killed him, after all? Then - for what? Inspector Alleyn begins to ask questions and immediately understands: only a few here are ready to tell the truth...