The Queen Against Owen

A prosecution brief turns a quiet seaside household into a case for the criminal courts. Eleanor Margaret Owen, the daughter of Porthstone's late rector, has been working as Ann Lewis's paid companion. After Ann's death and the disappearance of her valuable jewels, Eleanor faces an accusation that brings money, household testimony and personal connections under scrutiny. Allen Upward begins with the formal indictment, then follows the barrister Prescott as he studies the Crown's account of events.

The courtroom proceedings make the interpretation of evidence as important as the events themselves. Counsel challenge the basis for a conviction, while judges discuss their doubts and the responsibility of a jury. The author's note also considers how readers can reach opposing conclusions from the same facts. This legal novel offers a close view of accusation, advocacy and judgment, with suspense built around the distance between a persuasive account and reliable proof.