From the Collins Crime Club archive, the forgotten second novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed 'The King of Detective Story Writers' and recognised as one of the 'big four' Golden Age crime authors.
When the body of Sir William Ponson is found in the Cranshaw River near his home of Luce Manor, it is assumed to be an accident until the evidence points to murder. Inspector Tanner of Scotland Yard discovers that those who would benefit most from Sir William's death seem to have unbreakable alibis, and a mysterious fifth man whose footprints were found at the crime scene is nowhere to be found . . .
The rural setting of the small town adds a cosy, traditional feel to this mystery, making it a top pick in detective fiction. The thrillers don't get any better than this, as the plot thickens and the suspect list narrows.
For fans of Dorothy L. Sayers (Five Red Herrings), Elly Griffiths (The Last Word), George Bellairs (Intruder in the Dark), Edward Marston (Murder in Transit), and Mike Hollow (The Covent Garden Murder).