Dan Holiday, a mystery novelist who advertises for adventure, receives a letter from Dr. John Dobbs, a criminology professor. Dobbs claims he has devised the perfect crime and invites Holiday to witness it. Intrigued, Holiday meets Dobbs, who explains his theory: a murder with no connection between the killer and victim, no body, and no evidence. Dobbs, who is terminally ill, begins confessing to various murders across different cities, but each confession is dismissed as a hoax. His reputation as a crank grows, making his claims seem absurd. However, when he finally commits a real murder—killing Alexander Ferris—he executes his plan flawlessly. Holiday, suspicious of Dobbs, investigates and realizes that Dobbs used misdirection, much like a magician. Ferris was killed in his hometown, but Dobbs made it appear as if he had arrived in Holiday’s city. The police initially dismiss Dobbs’ confession, but Holiday uncovers the truth: Ferris’ body was found in a freight yard, identified t...