The Wings of Victory by Fred M. White

Naturally enough, the tragedy at Baron's Court attracted a good deal of attention, not only locally, but throughout the West of England.

Then, gradually the conviction began to spread that there was something behind the mystery that had to be explained. On the face of it there was no ground for this theory that did not prevent people talking, especially in the neighbourhood of Tavistock. And, strangely enough, one of the reasons given for a suggestion that something was radically wrong was that John Bevill's pet chimpanzee was not to be found. And, as a matter of facts, Vim had disappeared, leaving no trace behind him.