Commentary/review

A unexpectedly satisfying read. The book is a detailed, procedural description of a preparation for crime, the murder itself and the steps taken to conceal it. The perpetrator is a resourceful amateur and a good man. The other main character is a lawyer with a perfectly balanced sense of justice and an extraordinary talent in deduction. The book is not concerned with emotions, yet there they are, right at the end. The ingenious Author leaves you to them and disappears into the darkness.

It is without the doubt among the best 5 crime novels I have ever read. The power of the story lies, however, not in the technical detail but in something else entirely. R. Austin Freeman displays an insightful understanding of human endeavors. Behind every action undertaken in our allotted time, we may consider its ethics or choose to disregard them. Are you sure you are spending your time responsibly, he asks us.

A classic narration style, quite adequate. The book is not brilliant in this recording, hence a lower mark. A very good instance of the British Library Crime Classics series.

I always admire the covers in that series. The colors here are simply gorgeous.

Cover Photo by Dan Mall on Unsplash