Antidote to Venom
Freeman Wills Crofts
1938
4/5 stars
This "inverted" mystery begins by following George Surridge, director of the Birmington Zoo. He is short on cash, due mostly to bad decisions on his part, and finds himself contemplating the unthinkable as a means to alleviate his difficulties. The reader waits for the inevitable to happen, as Surridge gets in deeper and deeper, with the suspense being where and how he would commit murder.
Once the deed is done, it comes to the notice of Scotland Yard detective, Inspector French, who notices a clue not picked up on by the Birmington police. French proceeds to investigate, while Surridge becomes paranoid and panicky, wondering how soon it will be before his guilt is discovered.
This was a nicely plotted, intelligent, and well-written mystery. The method of the crime was truly ingenious, if a bit implausible, and Crofts' development of Surridge's character quite good. Crofts intended for this to be a moral tale of sorts, with a redemptive ending, but that part of the novel was somewhat awkward, as if Crofts were slightly embarrassed by what he was doing. Otherwise, this is a fully entertaining story and I hope to read more by this Golden Age author.
Freeman Wills Crofts
1938
4/5 stars
This "inverted" mystery begins by following George Surridge, director of the Birmington Zoo. He is short on cash, due mostly to bad decisions on his part, and finds himself contemplating the unthinkable as a means to alleviate his difficulties. The reader waits for the inevitable to happen, as Surridge gets in deeper and deeper, with the suspense being where and how he would commit murder.Once the deed is done, it comes to the notice of Scotland Yard detective, Inspector French, who notices a clue not picked up on by the Birmington police. French proceeds to investigate, while Surridge becomes paranoid and panicky, wondering how soon it will be before his guilt is discovered.
This was a nicely plotted, intelligent, and well-written mystery. The method of the crime was truly ingenious, if a bit implausible, and Crofts' development of Surridge's character quite good. Crofts intended for this to be a moral tale of sorts, with a redemptive ending, but that part of the novel was somewhat awkward, as if Crofts were slightly embarrassed by what he was doing. Otherwise, this is a fully entertaining story and I hope to read more by this Golden Age author.
