Eden Phillpotts (1862–1960)

This title is the lucid tale, narrated by the amateur detective, of his investigation into the true story behind the corpse found in a seaside cave in Devonshire. The focus is entirely on the logical steps of deduction, and the intellectual satisfaction the detective, Dr. Meredith, derives from his successful inquiry. It's quite in keeping with the Golden Age and its rules of "fair play." Those looking for a novel with some mystery, witty banter, or standard suspense, however, should look show more elsewhere. show less

One of the authors Agatha Christie cited as an influence. Not sure I entirely see it. Some intriguing aspects, but a pretty weedy protagonist and you could see it coming a mile away.

This was a very imaginative book, however the pace was slow in places, particularly at the beginning of the story. I listened to the Librivox audiobook.

What a wonderful name Eden Phillpotts. I was disappointed to find he was a male author after all. And this novel jumped out at me from a bookshelf as the most histrionic of the row of his titles. From what I read it specialized in period (1900) dialect and village melodrama.