Hardcover. A distinctive smell of smoke presages a series of murders in the village of Lamsford, and it proves a puzzling case for Inspector Arnold and Desmond Merrion. ÔMiles BurtonÕ was one of the two famous pseudonyms used by Major Cecil John Charles Street (1884-1965), who also wrote under the name ÔJohn Rhode.Õ The Miles Burton novels feature freelance sleuth Desmond Merrion, who collaborates on cases with Scotland YardÕs Inspector Henry Arnold.