This story features many characters and independent incidents across different timelines. This log is designed to keep track of these events and help navigate the complex buildup to the “zero hour.”
Prologue
November 19th
- Characters: Mr. Treves (an 80-year-old retired lawyer), and his legal friends at the club (Solicitor Martindale, Rufus Lord KC, young Daniels, Justice Cleaver, and young Lewis).
- Summary: At a dinner club, Mr. Treves explains his theory that a murder is actually the end of a story, and all the events leading up to it are the progression “towards zero”. Later at home, he reads a letter that deeply annoys him and alters his plans.
Chapter 1: “Open the door and here are the people”
January 11th
- Characters: Angus MacWhirter and a hospital nurse.
- Summary: Angus is recovering in a hospital bed after a failed suicide attempt. He is bitter and angry that his attempt to jump off a cliff was ruined by a tree branch growing out of the rock and some people passing by. (He had previously lost his job, and consequently his wife, after refusing to lie to insurance people about his boss’s driving speed when they got into a car accident).
February 14th
- Characters: An unidentified person.
- Summary: A deeply disturbed, unnamed person sits alone in a room, meticulously writing down a foolproof plan to commit a murder.
March 8th
- Characters: Superintendent Battle, his daughter Sylvia, and her headmistress, Miss Amphrey.
- Summary: Superintendent Battle learns that his daughter has confessed to a series of petty thefts at her school. It is revealed that she was actually innocent but was intimidated into making a false confession.
April 19th
- Characters: Nevile Strange and his second wife, Kay.
- Summary: Nevile and Kay discuss their upcoming visit to “Gull’s Point,” the home of Lady Tressilian (the widow of Nevile’s late guardian, Sir Matthew). Nevile suggests that Kay should get friendly with his first wife, Audrey, and proposes they visit in September while she is there. Kay is not happy about the idea, but she reluctantly agrees.
April 30th
- Characters: Lady Tressilian and Mary Aldin.
- Summary: Lady Tressilian receives a letter from Nevile about his plan to visit in September with both Kay and Audrey. Lady Tressilian does not like the idea, but her companion, Mary Aldin, thinks it is fine. Lady Tressilian asks Mary to invite Audrey to Gull’s Point in May to see if she is comfortable with the arrangement.
May 5th
- Characters: Lady Tressilian and Audrey.
- Summary: Audrey visits Gull’s Point to discuss the plan. Lady Tressilian asks if she is okay with spending time with Nevile and his new wife, and Audrey agrees, saying she thinks it will be good for everyone to get along.
May 29th
- Characters: Thomas Royde and Allen Drake.
- Summary: Thomas is preparing to return to England after several years managing a rubber plantation in Malaya. Alan asks why Thomas didn’t go home even when his brother died and questions him about a woman in a photograph. Thomas clarifies that she is not his sister, but his cousin, Audrey. He mentions he is heading to Saltcreek for his vacation.
May 29th
- Characters: Mr. Treves and Rufus Lord.
- Summary: Mr. Treves is annoyed because he cannot stay at his usual Marine Hotel due to construction work. Rufus Lord suggests he vacation in Saltcreek instead and mentions that Lady Tressilian, the widow of the late Sir Matthew, lives there. Mr. Treves agrees to the plan.
July 28th
- Characters: Kay Strange, Ted Latimer, and Nevile Strange.
- Summary: Kay and Ted watch Nevile play tennis. It is clear that Ted has feelings for Kay, though she does not feel the same way about him. Ted dislikes Nevile for marrying Kay. After the game, Nevile and Kay talk; it is clear that Nevile also dislikes Ted for constantly hanging around Kay.
August 10th
- Characters: Lord Cornelly and Angus MacWhirter.
- Summary: Lord Cornelly offers Angus a job in Latin America because he heard about his integrity—specifically that he refused to lie even when it cost him his previous job. Angus, now moved on from his earlier suicidal thoughts, is happy to accept the role. Since he has some time before he must leave for Latin America, he decides to spend his vacation in Saltcreek.
August 19th
- Characters: Superintendent Battle and his wife.
- Summary: Battle is annoyed that his vacation plans are spoiled by an urgent case he must attend to in Saltington. He tells his wife to go on vacation without him, deciding he will stay in nearby Saltcreek during his investigation to get some time off, especially since his nephew, Inspector James Leach, is already stationed there.
