Rennie Airth -'River of Darkness' Quiz

Answer: His wife and baby daughter had died of influenza.

After he had left the police force, World War I started and Inspector Madden served in the trenches. Madden's battalion went into action on the first day of the Somme campaign and he was badly injured. Less than 80 men out of the battalion of 700 survived.

After the war, like a lot of other people, he was haunted by his memories and had no idea how to rebuild his life so he returned to Scotland Yard.

Answer: Five people and a dog had been killed.

Colonel and Mrs Fletcher, their nanny and a maid were found dead. Their young daughter was found, traumatised, hiding under a bed. Later, the bodies of a poacher and his dog were found on Upton Hanger hillside, above the house.

Answer: One ex-soldier

The attacker had been watching the house for weeks and had poisoned the family dog with strychnine. Before the attack he blew a police whistle (a whistle was always blown to send troops into battle). He then carried out a fast commando style raid on the house. He smashed a glass door, wearing a gas mask, and used a bayonet on the family.

Answer: The attacker shot at them and escaped.

The attacker was using a Lee Enfield rifle and it was only Madden's experience in the trenches that alerted the two officers and helped them escape, but the attacker also escaped.

Answer: From his military record

With some difficulty, the police managed to identify the attacker as Sergeant Major Amos Pike, who was presumed killed at Passchendale. He had been awarded two military medals and his photograph had actually appeared in newspapers because the second medal was presented by Field Marshal Haig.

It was then discovered that Pike had been the main suspect in a murder in Belgium, just before he disappeared.

Answer: Yes

A gypsy named Caddo was charged with theft and the murder of a woman in Maidstone, Kent. Caddo admitted the theft but refused to confess to the murder. The jury did not believe him and he was hanged. Due to the similarity of the murder to the one at Mellyn Lodge the police realize that Pike could have been responsible.

When the police start to close in on him, Pike also kills a policeman who has been ordered to stop people on motor cycles.

Answer: Watching another family

Pike is busy building a dugout in Ashdown Forest so that he can watch another family and plan his raid. At the same time, the police find a dugout in Ashdown Forest and surround it, thinking they have caught Pike. That dugout turns out to contain a cache of Lee Enfield rifles with no connection to Pike. Pike carries out his raid on the same night. Unknown to Pike, the family have gone away just before he arrives, but he manages to kill three elderly women.

Answer: He is working as a chauffer under a false name.

Amos Pike is working as a chauffeur for Mrs Aylward, a well known local artist. He has chosen his victims from people she has painted. The police know that he is travelling around on a motor cycle which is hidden in a shed close to his employer's house. When a solicitor's clerk, acting for the lady who owns the shed, tells him to leave, he kills both of them.

Answer: He smashes a car into his employer's house.

By this time, Amos Pike is losing touch with reality. His picture has been published in every newspaper and people have been told to keep watch for him, so he dare not use public transport. He is aware that the police know about his motor cycle. He decides to steal his employer's Bentley.

He plans his escape carefully, but at the last moment the police arrive. He has put the body of the murdered solicitor's clerk in the car, which catches fire and Pike manages to escape in the confusion. The police initially assume that the body is Amos Pike.

Answer: He is caught by Detective Inspector Madden and Constable Stackpole

Amos Pike returns to Highfield village, near Mellyn Lodge. The police realise that the body in the car is not Amos Pike and that Dr Helen Blackwell, the local GP, is probably going to be his next victim. Detective Inspector Madden and Constable Stackpole arrive just in time to intervene in the attack but Madden is badly hurt.