Eric Crowther is dead — horribly dead, in his neighbor’s home. A surprising number of people wanted him dead, and they’re openly happy that he’s gone. But none of them could have killed him. As one startling secret after another unfolds, it appears that this will be an unsolved mystery.
A classic detective novel with a classic detective, this book is elegantly written and cleverly plotted. The characters are deeper and more complex than those of many modern mystery novels, the plotting is exemplary, and the setting is a classic English village (with a trip to France on the side). There’s a slight love interest and a surprising twist at the end.
Margery Allingham was one of the great writers of the Golden Age of detective novels. This reissued novel, her first ever, is a wonderful find for those of us who love the classic puzzle story.
If you like mysteries with gimmicks, recipes, and steamy sex scenes, this won’t be for you. If you’re into the puzzle, you’ll be glad you found this one.