''The Widow of Bath'' is a crime-thriller novel published in 1952 by the Scottish author Margot Bennett.

Premise

Hugh Everton, who is struggling to readjust to normal life after serving several months in prison, re-encounters his ex-lover, the vivacious Lucy, who is married to the staid Judge Bath. Against his better judgement, Hugh agrees to spend some time at the couple's house, but before long, the judge is killed and his body vanishes.

TV Serial

The book was adapted into a six-episode serial by the BBC in 1959, which was directed by Gerard Glaister, with the screenplay written by Bennett herself. It starred

John Justin John Justin (24 November 1917 – 29 November 2002) was a British stage and film actor. Early life John Justinian de Ledesma was born in Knightsbridge, London, England, the son of a well-off Argentine rancher. Though he grew up on his father' ...

as Hugh Everton and

Barbara Murray Barbara Ann Murray (27 September 1929 – 20 May 2014) was an English actress. Murray was most active in the 1940s and 1950s as a fresh-faced leading lady in many British films such as ''Passport to Pimlico'' (1949) and ''Meet Mr. Lucifer'' (19 ...

as Lucy. The serial no longer survives in the BBC archives.http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/the-widow-of-bath-by-margot-bennett/

Availability

The novel is no longer in print. It was last issued in 2001. As at September 2021, it can be purchased as an e-book from Amazon UK.

References

1952 British novels British thriller novels British crime novels Novels by Margot Bennett Novels set in England Novels set in London Eyre & Spottiswoode books British novels adapted into television shows {{1950s-novel-stub