"Murder in Mesopotamia" takes place in Iraq. Amy Leatheran, a thirty-two year old nurse, traveled to Iraq for business at the request of Dr. Reilly, a "civil surgeon at a place called Hassanieh." Amy Leatheran was under the assumption that she would be caring for Dr. Leidner's wife Mrs. Leidner. But what Amy Leatheran was not prepared for was the role she would play in solving Mrs. Leidner's murder.
             Amy Leatheran traveled to Iraq with Mrs. Kelsey and her husband Major Kelsey. Amy Leatheran had attended Mrs. Kelsey when her baby was born which made them former acquaintances. Dr. Reilly was a "black-haired, long faced man who said all sorts of funny things in a low, sad voice." When Dr. Reilly first approached Amy Leatheran about the job he simply referred to Mrs. Leidner as "just a lady who has – shall we say – fancies?" Amy Leatheran silently interpreted "fancies" to be either drink or drug. Later that same afternoon Dr. Leidner came to greet Amy Leatheran at her hotel. Amy Leatheran described Dr. Leidner to be "a middle-aged man with a rather nervous, hesitating manner" but also stating that "there was something gentle and kindly and rather helpless about him." Dr. Leidner added to his wife's diagnoses by including that Mrs. Leidner "imagines things" and "works herself up over nothing at all."
             Amy Leatheran would be joining Dr. Leidner's expedition the following week at a place called Tell Yarmijah. On Amy Leatheran's arrival she was greeted by Dr. Leidner's crew consisting of "all sorts and nationalities." The squadron leader cheerfully gave a quick description of everyone: "An English architect, a French Father from Carthage – he does the inscriptions – tablets and things, you know. And then there's Miss Johnson. She's English too – sort of...