It had, according to some noises, been bought by a Hollywood star. A few newspapers had suggested that the British Admiralty was engaged in ultra-secret experiments. We had also talked about a rich Yankee... In short, when they received – without knowing who – this invitation to spend a vacation on the Negro Island, every ten – from the judge to the playboy through the secretary – they ran. But, on the Negro Island, the mysterious host was absent and, from the first night, a record was placed on the gramophone, accusing each of them of a crime. The panic stowed the guests...
Written in 1940, this masterpiece is probably the most widely read of all police novels: the French edition has already far exceeded two million copies. (Postface by François Rivière)