First published in 1944 (the same year it is set), it intertwines the reality of Britain at war and a delightfully unserious tone. Amidst food rations, petrol shortages, and city evacuees are hidden mince-pies, vapid couples, and a doddering lawyer.
REVIEW: These Names Make Clues
Chief Inspector MacDonald is invited to an unusual party. Each guest is sent around the country estate with cryptic clues, full of puzzles and puns, to unravel, which will lead them to the next clue. Unfortunately for the players, a brief electrical outage reveals a dead body in the telephone room.
REVIEW: Two-Way Murder
The cast of village characters becomes a network of suspects, amateur detectives, and gossips — each trying to piece together the events of the evening.
REVIEW: Murder’s A Swine
Nap Lombard wrote this novel set in Blitz London while they were living it. In fact, they were air-raid wardens themselves — the simultaneous monotony and chaos of inspired their writing.
REVIEW: A Surprise for Christmas
Whoever says crime and Christmas don’t go together is just wrong. Editor Martin Edwards has put together a delightful selection of Yuletide crime stories, cheerful enough to put any reader into the holiday spirit.